Extending a hand at Christmas

Artist Lasse Harkkala made his debut as a stamp artist last year with the popular Europa stamp depicting the mythical sea nymph. Unlike that assignment, Lasse initially found it tricky to come up with the right concept for this year’s Christmas stamps. Lasse explains:

“It felt like slightly odd timing for working on the design, as I had just cleared away last Christmas, both physically and mentally. The idea was to create a Christmas greeting from the Islands of Peace and I began by coming up with my own fantasy characters, but I soon realised that they were not so readily identifiable as figures of peace. So I chose instead to use the dove and angel, which are more familiar peace symbols. With the war in Europe, it felt important to create universal motifs that are hopeful or at least bring a small boost of positive emotion.”

Lasse’s pictures evolve as he works, and the tiny format can be problematic: “My pictures generally evolve over time as I paint and I always want to make them complete pieces, so they can work as individual pictures. I like to add numerous details. However, that works less well with stamp formats where space is needed for text, so it’s always a bit of a challenge for me!”

Classic Christmas attributes that Lasse has also incorporated include Åland handicraft products: the hand-dipped branch candles, produced by a small family company on the island of Husö in the Åland archipelago since the 1980s, light up many Åland homes at Christmas. The Blomman flower pendant worn by the angel of peace is a real item handmade by Åland jewellery-makers Guldviva. It has been a symbol of Åland ever since it was first produced in 1992.

Christmas 2023

Date of issue: 20 October 2023

Artist: Lasse Harkkala

Design: Johanna Finne

Editions: 130 000 & 45 000

Denominations: Julpost & Världen

Stamp size: 36 × 25.5 mm

Sheet size: 2 × 20 stamps

Paper: 110 g/m²

Perforation: 13 per 2 cm

Process: 4-colour offset

Printer: Cartor Security Printers

Christmas angels come in many forms; on the stamp sheet you will find children making snow angels. The first day cover shows a green and decorated Christmas tree. The first day cancel depicts an angel of peace.

Food and drink are some of the most traditional and age-old elements of Christmas celebrations. According to folklore, Christmas porridge had magical associations, including putting out a bowl of porridge for the goblin to keep on good terms with him.

Exotic rice grains were brought to the Nordic region in the 1700s and, for many, this is what Christmas porridge should be made from. In the late 1800s, the tradition of hiding an almond in the porridge became established, promising whoever finds it to be married by the following year.

Appearing in the images is the amaryllis, one of the most popular Christmas flowers on Åland, but most popular at our latitudes is the hyacinth, which has been around since the 1860s and was featured on an Åland Christmas stamp in 2011. Grown from bulbs, both of these plants have become popular because it’s easy to get them to flower in winter despite the lack of sunlight and heat.

Lasse himself is quite relaxed about Christmas and Christmas celebrations.

“Christmas is not that big a deal to me. I try to keep my distance from the consumerism, but I celebrate the fact that the days are getting longer again. Christmas ham, Christmas trees and a Christmas sauna are generally a part of things, and dark beer, of course,” says Lasse.

Lasse’s peace dove and angel also appear on this year’s Christmas seals for decorating cards and gifts. Åland Post has been issuing Christmas seals since 1993 and proceeds from the sales have contributed to numerous charitable projects and organisations on Åland over the years. This year’s recipient is the Red Cross Åland district. The funds will be used to support the extensive activities carried out on Åland.

The Red Cross is one of the biggest civic organisations in Finland. Established more than 80 years ago, the Åland district includes 16 local departments and 5 first aid groups, which organise activities such as first aid and CPR training, work to promote integration of immigrants and refugees and offer befriending activities for both youngsters and the elderly. Every August, the Red Cross also holds a period market, at which the local departments sell handicrafts, vegetables, baked goods, and other products. The district also coordinates the volunteer emergency services on Åland and is responsible for relevant training for volunteers.

Christmas seals 2023

Date of issue: 20 October 2023

Artist: Lasse Harkkala

Design: Johanna Finne

Edition: 2500 sheets of 20 self-adhesive seals

Seal size: 30.6 × 25.8 mm

Sheet size: 210 × 145 mm

Paper: coated 247 g/m²

Process: 4-colour offset

Printer: Cartor Security Printers

Lasse Harkkala is a Finnish illustrator, painter and graphic artist living in Geta on northern Åland. His first commission for Åland Post was the 2022 Europa stamp on the theme stories and myths.

@lasseharkkala

Photographer: Christoffer Relander

FDC Christmas 2023

Price: €5.30 Code: 416-000447

Christmas seals 2023

Price: €5.00 Code: 375-202307