Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the month of daylight fasting in the Islamic religious calendar. The annual celebration is the most popular Muslim festival in the world and has been observed in New Zealand for over a hundred years.
Issue information
The Islamic calendar is predicated on the cycles of the Moon, so the exact date of Eid al-Fitr (“eed-al-Fit-er”) fluctuates throughout the Gregorian calendar. Muslims will greet each other on this date with the special salutation “Eid Mubarak” (eed-mu-bar-ak), meaning “Eid blessings”. In Muslim majority societies, the festival is usually a two-to-three-day public holiday involving modest street parties, parades and bunting. In New Zealand, most members of the Muslim community will gather early in the morning for special congregational prayers, then return home to eat, with family and friends visiting throughout the day.
In Muslim majority societies, the festival is usually a two-to-three-day public holiday involving modest street parties, parades and buntings. In New Zealand, most members of the Muslim community will gather early in the morning for special congregational prayers – called “Eid Salah” or “Salat al-Eid” – then return home to eat, with family and friends visiting throughout the day.
The essence of these celebrations comes from faith and family. If the centre of Ramadan is fasting and self-discipline, then Eid al-Fitr represents worship and thanksgiving. This worship is primarily articulated by the audible recital of Islamic prayers and constitutes one of the largest Muslim congregational supplications of the year. The thanksgiving aspect is expressed by ending the fast with specially prepared foods, greeting and congratulating one another and sharing gifts. Homes are given an especially thorough clean and new clothes, headscarves and fezzes are purchased for the celebration. Many Muslims will also make an effort to read from the Quran, the scriptures of Islam.
Represented by dozens of nationalities, languages, customs and traditions, the New Zealand Muslim community is spread through every statistical district in the country. The distinctly New Zealand twist on Eid al-Fitr lies in the inclusion of these diverse communities into one broader culture, sharing the same prayer spaces for worship and fostering a collective sense of identity.
These stamps featured ‘Eid Mubarak’ (Eid Blessings) in Arabic calligraphy over the silhouette of a mosque, as well as the Islamic year 1443 AH and ‘Eid Mubarak’. The colour palette included a bold use of metallic gold, and each stamp included one of four complementary colours that have specific meanings in Islam: turquoise, blue, purple and green.
Date of issue: 6 April 2022
Product listing for Eid Mubarak
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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Single Stamp |
Single $1.50 gummed stamp. |
$1.50 |
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Single Stamp | Single $2.80 gummed stamp. | $2.80 |
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Single Stamp | Single $3.60 gummed stamp. | $3.60 |
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Single Stamp | Single $6.50 gummed stamp. | $6.50 |
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Miniature Sheet | Mint, used or cancelled gummed miniature sheet. | $14.40 |
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First Day Cover | First day cover with four gummed stamps affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. | $14.90 |
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Miniature Sheet First Day Cover | First day cover with gummed miniature sheet affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. | $14.90 |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 6 April 2022 |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps: | Four gummed |
| Denominations: | $1.50, $2.80, $3.60 & $6.50 |
| Designed by: | Chris Jones, Graphetti & Waqas and Sameera, MW Calligraphy Art, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Printer and process: | Southern Colour Print, New Zealand by lithography |
| Number of colours: | Four process colours plus Metalic Gold |
| Stamp size and format: | 35mm x 45mm (vertical) |
| Miniature sheet size and format: | 150mm x 90mm (horizontal) |
| Paper type: | Arconvert Securpost Premium Gummed 110gsm stamp paper |
| Number of stamps per sheet: | 25 |
| Perforation gauge: | 14.286 x 14.47 |
| Special blocks: | Plate/imprint blocks could be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps from a sheet. Barcode blocks were available in A and B formats. |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 5 April 2023. First day covers remained on sale until 5 June 2022. |