Victorious New Year! postal stamp

2022 has become an extremely difficult year for Ukraine and the world, but it did not break the strength and freedom of the Ukrainian people. After the full-scale invasion of the russian army in February, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are resisting and step by step pushing the enemy out of Ukrainian lands.

New Year stamps in Ukrainian philately

The first stamps dedicated to the New Year holidays appeared in Ukrainian philately only in 1997. For three consecutive years (1997-1999) these were issues dedicated to the celebration of Christmas. The first stamp, which was devoted to the New Year, was issued in 1999 and was dedicated to the new millennium. After that, the following issues were carried out:

·         1999 - "Happy New Year 2000!";

·         2000 - "New Year";

·         2001 - "New Year";

·         2002 - "Happy New Year!"

·         2003 - "Happy New Year!";

·         2004 - a set of 3 stamps "Happy New Year! Happy New Year!";

·         2005 - "Happy New Year!";

·         2007 - a set of 2 stamps "Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!";

·         2007 - own stamp with a coupon "Happy New Year! Merry Christmas!";

·         2008 - "Happy New Year!";

·         2009 - "Happy New Year!";

·         2011 - a set of 2 stamps "Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!";

·         2012 - a set of 2 stamps "Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!";

·         2014 - "Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!";

·         2015 - "Happy Holidays!";

·         2016 - "Year of the Rooster. Happy New Year!";

·         2018 - "Happy New Year! Year of the Pig";

·         2019 - a set of 5 stamps "Happy Holidays!".

In some years, stamps were issued only for Christmas, St. Nicholas or represented by a horoscope according to the Eastern calendar. Also, there was a break in the production of New Year stamps in 2010. The largest circulation used for one stamp was 560 thousand copies in 2004.

 What is known about the postal stamp "Victorious New Year!"

The whole year 2022 was atypical for Ukrainian philately. The main post office enlisted the support of the public and issued stamps in accordance with the themes of today. Many of the sketches were created by independent artists and designers, and were chosen by open public voting.

·         Date of putting into circulation: 19.12.2022

·         Circulation - 720 thousand copies

·         Stamp format - 40.5x30 mm

·         Number of stamps per sheet - 6 (3x2)

·         Face value - U (12.00 UAH)

·         Author of the design - Valeria Mykhailova

In November, JSC "Ukrposhta" announced a competition for a stamp design in honor of Christmas and New Year. Among the selected five works, an online voting was held on the official pages of the postal social networks. More than 15 thousand

Sketch of the New Year postage stamp that participated in the competition. Photo by Ukrposhta.

Ukrainians took part in the voting. The illustration of an 11th-grader from Mykolaiv, who was forced to go abroad due to the shelling of the city by the russian military, was chosen by the majority of votes.

Description of the holiday stamp on the occasion of 2023.

First of all, the stamp reflects the pain and separation that lasts for a long time and continues even during the New Year holidays. Everyone is waiting for the moment when they can return home and meet their relatives. And the main hopes for the upcoming year 2023, which should definitely bring Ukrainians victory in their difficult struggle.

The stamp is presented in horizontal orientation and conventionally split into two pictures. On the left there is a girl who celebrates the New Year alone. She is sitting in a room on the floor near a decorated Christmas tree. An unwrapped package with a gift contains a written letter. The girl is frozen, thinking about her beloved. There are lighted candles on the window, and the clock on the wall shows almost 12 o'clock.

In the right part of the sketch, there is a Ukrainian soldier sitting near the wall of the building, these are his New Year's conditions. He is also frozen, looking into the distance. It can be assumed that his thoughts are also directed to the desire to be close to his beloved. It is not known for sure, but perhaps in the background, where his gaze is directed, there is a destroyed and burning Crimean bridge.

Two separated people are united by a touch of hands through the distance. The lower left part of the stamp has a stylized inscription "Victorious New Year!", and the right part contains the Latin letter of the denomination U. The upper left part of the stamp contains the coat of arms and the inscription Ukraine in Ukrainian and English. In the upper right corner of the stamp there is the year of issue - 2022.

The initial sketch was slightly different from the one depicted on the stamp. The soldier and the girl did not touch hands. Also, there was no letter in front of the girl. There were no candles on the window, and fireworks were depicted in the night sky. As for the soldier, there was no snow on the ground. Among other details, the girl had a straight hairstyle.

Envelope of the First Day of the Victorious New Year