News releases

TORONTO – Canada Post will introduce a stamp recognizing Hanukkah, the Jewish faith’s eight-day celebration also known as the Festival of Lights on November 20, 2017.

The stamp’s geometric design represents the different types of menorahs, along with a strong contrast between light and dark, which creates the appearance of flickering flames. Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev, the ninth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. This year, the festival takes place from sunset on December 12 to nightfall on December 20.

The planned release date has been moved forward by a week to resolve a design issue with the stamp booklet. The stamp will be available for sale online on November 20, 2017 and in post offices later that week. This is an important stamp and we apologize for the delay.

The stamp was unveiled at the Starry Nights event held at the Bram & Bluma Appel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library and hosted by Ve’ahavta, a Jewish charitable organization delivering programs that alleviate poverty.

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, Judaism’s holiest site, in the second century BCE, after the Maccabees regained religious freedom. The Temple menorah (a seven-branched candelabra) was supposed to stay lit at all times. However, there was only enough oil to last one day, and it would take eight days to harvest and press the olives, and transport the oil to replenish the supply. Miraculously, that small amount burned for the next eight days, which is why the kindling of a menorah, adding a light each day, is central to the eight-day Hanukkah celebrations.

Background: Stamps for other major celebrations
In May, Canada Post issued an Eid stamp to recognize two important festivals celebrated by Muslims in Canada and worldwide. In September, Canada Post and India Post partnered on a historic joint stamp issue featuring two stamps marking Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. The Hanukkah, Eid and Diwali stamps, as well as our Christmas stamps, depict our pride in Canada being a land of enormous diversity.

For more information:
Media relations
613-734-8888
media@canadapost.ca