This year’s Christmas stamps are designed by visual artist and entrepreneur Hanna-Maria Mainelakeus. The stamps will become available on November 6.
The stamps feature the bright colors of the northern lights, Christmas trees and reindeer. The designs were inspired by Finnish nature and particularly the magic of the winter landscape.
"I wanted to showcase the magic of our winter landscape. The bright colors of the northern lights emphasize the magic of waiting for Christmas and the feeling of celebration, and reindeer are clearly part of the northern landscape," says Mainelakeus.
Instead of red and green that are typically associated with Christmas, Mainelakeus wanted to include other colors in the Christmas stamps.
"I used pink, purple and turquoise in the stamps. These shades of the northern lights create a fantasy-like atmosphere. The northern lights are also reflected on the surface of snow and, as the evening gets darker, the colors come to life," she says.
Cute, endearing animals
Nature and animals are also important subjects to other works by Mainelakeus, an artist whose designs have been worn by many children over the years. The charming designs feature white-tailed deer, rabbits and puppies on Scandinavian neutral-colored fabrics and clothes.
"I started designing fabrics to counterbalance taking care of my baby. People liked the animal characters, and the design of fabrics and clothes got off to a flying start."
The animal characters of Mainelakeus have also been featured on Posti's stamps before. She designed the cute animal stamps that were released on Valentine’s Day a year ago.
"The Valentine’s Day stamps have been popular. I have heard that they are sold out in many stores."
Mainelakeus has first made the stamps traditionally drawing by hand and then finished them by painting digitally. She also designs fabrics by first sketching and then painting a picture of the subject. Finally, the finishing of colors and designs is done digitally.
Interest in illustrative work
Maintaining her own Mainelakeus brand is a full-time job. In the future, Hanna-Maria would like to have more time for painting and design. She has also started to illustrate children’s books.
"In October, we published the book Rakastan sinua (I love you), which I illustrated. I would like to do illustrative work in the future as well. Another new thing is that we are expanding our production to include adult clothing," says Mainelakeus.
Mainelakeus lives and works in Espoo. Among other things, she visits trade fairs, but the products are mostly sold online. Products based on the Christmas stamps are also available for sale at Santa Claus’ Main Post Office in Rovaniemi.
Hanna-Maria’s Christmas plans are still up in the air.
"Every Christmas has been a little different, and we spontaneously decide what we do. Sometimes we spend Christmas at grandma’s in Toholampi. The most important thing is spending time with the family, relaxing and enjoying Christmas in the middle of busy everyday life."
She appreciates Christmas traditions such as Christmas cards, Christmas food, the Christmas sauna and the Christmas church service.
The no-value indicator stamp for Christmas greetings Christmas Miracle will be issued as a 20-stamp sheet and the domestic non-value indicator stamp Christmas Path will be issued as a 10-stamp sheet.
First-day event at Helsinki Main Post Office on November 6
The first-day event for the Christmas stamps and the Fingerpori stamps will be held on Wednesday, November 6, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Helsinki Main Post Office (Elielinaukio 2 F, 00100 Helsinki).
New stamps, first day covers and other stamp products will be sold at the event, and visitors can get first day postmarks on their items. Hanna-Maria Mainelakeus and Pertti Jarla will be present to sign their works from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.