A Mexican traditional celebration is making its way into the postal world with the recent release of four new commemorative Day of the Dead stamps issued by the United States Postal Service.
With the four new stamps portraying colorful and strong Day of the Dead symbolism, the USPS is recognizing this ancient Mexican tradition and its increasing popularity in American culture.
Mexican artist Luis Fitch, from Tijuana, Mexico, was commissioned to create the design and the illustrations for the stamps under the artistic direction of Antonio Alcalá.
Day of the Dead stamps show iconic elements
The Day of the Dead stamps feature iconic elements like the ofrenda (offering), with stylized, decorated “sugar skulls” that represent four family members, including a child with a hair bow, a father sporting a hat and mustache, a mother with curled hair, and another child.
Another traditional element, lit candles, flanks each sugar skull. According to this tradition, candles serve as a symbolic guide for deceased family members on their return journey to visit the land of the living once a year on the first two days of November.
The most iconic Day of the Dead flower, the cempazuchitl (marigold), adorns each stamp on its vertical borders, adding a colorful and attractive touch to the imagery.
The stamps are just another indication of how popular this annual celebration of formally remembering and honoring loved ones has become in U.S. society.
Each year in October and the beginning of November, hundreds of thousands of Americans attend Day of the Dead events in museums, art galleries, and community centers, like the Día de los Muertos Festival, organized by the Mesa Arts Center in the city of Mesa, in Arizona.
These celebrations are an appealing blend of music, dancing, art workshops, activities for children, arts and crafts, and traditional offerings, where people can place photos of their deceased family members and friends and light a candle to remember them.
The Day of the Dead tradition dates back to pre-Columbian cultures in Mesoamerica. Later, with the arrival of Spanish colonizers and missionaries, the Indigenous traditions blended with Catholic rites and customs.
About the artist
Fitch grew up in Tijuana, Mexico, moving to the U.S. in the mid-80s, where he obtained a Fine Arts degree. He currently lives in Minneapolis.
His artwork has been shown in more than 100 collections in Latin America and the U.S.
The artist’s collection is an impressive body of work on the theme of the Day of of the Dead tradition, and one that portrays a genuine essence and symbolism of this popular holiday.
Visit artist Luis Fitch website
Related video: Lively Day of the Dead USPS stamps
The U.S. Postal Service celebrates Day of the Dead with four colorful new stamps. 📬 #DayoftheDeadstamps https://t.co/0bBYwLhLSm
— U.S. Postal Service (@USPS) September 30, 2021
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