Canada Post is proud to mark two festivals, celebrated by
more than a million Muslims in Canada, with stamp featuring the popular
treat
OTTAWA,
ON, March 28, 2024 /CNW/ - Canada Post issued
a new stamp today to mark two important Islamic holidays: Eid
al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The
commemorative stamp features maamoul, Middle Eastern
cookies, and a traditional carved wooden mould used to make
them.
Melt-in-your-mouth cookies stuffed with a delicious walnut,
pistachio or date filling, maamoul are a sweet staple during
Eid celebrations. They are traditionally handmade from semolina and
flavoured with fragrant rose or orange-blossom water and
mahlab – a spice made from ground cherry pits. Before
baking, the balls of dough are stuffed with walnut, pistachio or
date filling and formed with specially carved wooden moulds.
Early versions of maamoul can be traced back to ancient
Egypt and Mesopotamia. Today,
family and friends often gather before Eid
al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha to
bake the cookies together. Served to guests and given as gifts,
maamoul are also made across much of the Middle East to celebrate other holidays, such
as Easter and Purim.
This year, Eid al-Fitr – the
Festival of Breaking the Fast – begins in April, after the end of
Ramadan. The stamp was issued today, so that it can be used to send
greetings before the festival. Eid
al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, marks the end of the
Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi
Arabia, the holiest Muslim city. In 2024, Eid al-Adha begins in June.
Celebrated by more than one million Muslims in Canada, both events can last several days and
include communal prayers and feasts, visits with family,
gift-giving and acts of charity.
Celebrating Canada's culturally diverse
population
The 2024 issue is Canada Post's sixth Eid stamp; the others
were issued in 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
The Eid stamp is one of several stamps Canada Post issues each
year to mark annual celebrations important to Canada's culturally diverse population –
others include Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas.
About the stamp
The stamp was designed by Kristine Do, photographed by
Maya Visnyei, with food styling by
David Grenier. Printed by Colour
Innovations, the issue includes booklets of six Permanent™ domestic
rate stamps and an Official First Day Cover cancelled in
London, Ontario.
The new stamp and collectibles are available at canadapost.ca
and postal outlets across Canada.
For links to images of the stamps and other products, and more
resources:
- External folder with high-resolution images
- Read the Canada Post magazine article featuring a
maamoul recipe
- Social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
TM Trademark of Canada Post Corporation.
SOURCE Canada Post