Religion

2020 55¢ Our Lady of Guapulo
December 30, 1696

“The Lady of the Cloud”

On December 30, 1696, it is said a miracle took place in Guápulo, Ecuador. That miracle was performed by the Virgin Mary (called the “Lady of the Cloud” by certain communities in Ecuador and Peru). The event became an important part of Guapulo’s culture.

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1982 20¢ Touro Synagogue
December 2, 1763

Dedication of Touro Synagogue

On December 2, 1763, the Touro Synagogue was officially dedicated after four years of construction. Today, it’s the oldest standing synagogue in the US.

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2021 58¢ Day of the Dead – Man's Skull with Hat
November 1

Day of the Dead

Celebrated annually on November 1, the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is a time to celebrate lost loved ones. While the holiday is a relatively modern tradition, its origins date back thousands of years.

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2016 47¢ Jack-O'-Lanterns, 4 Stamps
October 31

Happy Halloween! 

Do you know some of the early origins of Halloween? Or how Jack-o’-lanterns got their name? Read on to discover lots of neat Halloween history…

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1984 30¢ Great Americans: Frank C. Laubach
September 2, 1884

Happy Birthday Frank Laubach 

Missionary Frank Charles Laubach was born on September 2, 1884, in Benton, Pennsylvania.  He dedicated his life to teaching people around the world to read, visiting more than 100 countries and developing books for 312 different languages.

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1974 10¢ Rural America: Chautauqua Tent
August 6, 1974

Chautauqua Institution 

On August 6, 1974, the USPS issued the Chautauqua Institution stamp, the second in the Rural America series, honoring the organization’s centennial.  Initially founded to train Sunday school teachers, “Chautauqua” became a term for commercial traveling companies who pitched tents and presented lecturers, orators, and performing artists to rural areas.

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1940 2¢ Mark Hopkins
February 4, 1802

Birth of Mark Hopkins

Mark Hopkins was born on February 4, 1802, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He was the youngest college president in the US and produced many influential writings on religion, education, morality, and more.

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1961 8¢ Champions of Liberty: Mahatma Gandhi
January 30, 1948

Mahatma Gandhi Assassinated

On January 30, 1948, a Hindu extremist assassinated Mahatma Gandhi.  Gandhi used civil disobedience and hunger strikes to fight discrimination and push for India’s independence from Great Britain, among many other causes.

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1975 Old North Church stamp
April 15, 1723

Old North Church

On April 15, 1732, the first stone was laid for Boston’s Christ Church, more famously known as the Old North Church. It’s home to the oldest church bells in America. And it was made famous during Paul Revere’s midnight ride with the signal, “one if by land, two if by sea.”

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