Monday, January 16, 2012

Monday Mail Out: Investigating International Letter Writing Week.

[An International Letter-Writing Week 2009 postage stamp from Japan]


Welcome to the first Monday Mail Out for 2012!

I received a letter last week from my lovely Japanese penpal, Megumi. The postage stamp she used caught my attention: International Letter-Writing Week.

Actually, it was more like, "International Letter-Writing Week??"

It was news to me! How is that an avid letter-writer such as myself had never heard of International Letter-Writing Week? So, I've been investigating.

As it turns out, it is a real thing:

 "International Letter Writing Week was established at the 14th Universal Postal Union (UPU) Congress held in Ottawa in 1957 with the aim of contributing to world peace by encouraging cultural exchanges among the people of the world through letter writing". - UNOstamps

I've discovered that countries such as Japan and Thailand commemorate Letter-Writing Week during the second week of October with a stamp issue every year. I've also learnt that the USA has its own National Letter-Writing Week the second week of January.

Australia, however, does not.

From the information I've been able to source online, we do not have a special day, week or month to commemorate letter-writing at all. Am I the only person who thinks that would be something the post would want to do, encourage people to send letters?


[Today's pile of outgoing mail: Letters to Nicki, Rae, Klementina, Dara, Lauren & Aida]


It's a good thing I don't need an excuse to write mail! I had a lovely letterful weekend, writing to old and new friends, choosing their stationery, decorating and/or making the envelopes.

Whilst I was buying stamps at the post office today I discovered that Australia Post has released their annual Chinese New Year stamp issue: 2012 is the Year of the Dragon! This stamp issue is always particularly pretty and I look forward to it every year.

Still disappointed we don't have a Letter-Writing Week, though...
Perhaps I should start my own?


Written correspondence has been a hobby of mine for a long time, & Monday Mail Out is a weekly feature whereby I can share my love for the lost art of letter writing. I hope my experiences will encourage others to send out letters on Monday too, and have them rediscover the joy of sending and receiving mail. If you have a blog, feel free to join in.

3 comments:

  1. How interesting! I had never heard of Letter Writing Week either, but it seems like a lovely idea!

    ps: I just mailed out something to you a few days ago, so keep an eye out for a little box from the Netherlands in the mail. :D

    x Maaike

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  2. I would love to take part in international letter writing week - then again by the time my letter gets to you it might be like 3 weeks later but the thought would be there.

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  3. I'd never heard of this either, but it sounds like a wonderful idea. I'll have to poke around to see if Canada celebrates it; and, if so, when.

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