To be surprised that the Royal Mail Christmas stamps are all religious?

[stampsurprise]

I thought for a change I'd get proper Christmas stamps this year. Didn't expect them to be all religious and no choice!

Is this usually what's on offer? I don't object personally, but I think most of those I send to won't care for a religious stamp.

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams

As far as I know, if stamps just say 1st/2nd they're perpetual. It's only if they have a price on it would be a problem.

The postmaster at my local office suggested I bought a couple of books of 1st/2nd class before the prices went up earlier this year, so I presume it's fine.

That's good news! I am learning loads on this thread. I'll take a punt on those robins then

@Janegrey333

Do you realise how you would sound if (as I think they should) RM issued stamps celebrating other cultures or festivals and you posted on here saying you didn’t want to buy them because you didn’t agree with their religion/culture.

A good point which has already been made.

And answered

As far as I know, if stamps just say 1st/2nd they're perpetual

Yes, they are; I'm still using sheets of stamps from when I was working, and while the price has gone up since then there's never been a problem with them

@HmmSureJan

This year the stamps should really be secular, I'm not quite sure why they're not.

Why? Serious question.

Why do I think they should be?

Because they usually alternate between religious and secular.

2016 were robins/snowman/lanterns etc., 2017 were Madonna and child (plus a set drawn by children as a competition), 2018 were postboxes, 2019 were Nativity-themed, so I'd have expected 2020's to be secular.

So perhaps "I'd have expected them to be", rather than "should". But it's definitely been the pattern for quite a while — much longer than I just listed.

I can't understand why anyone would care if a stamp on an envelope you are going to bin us religious.
Plus we are a Christian Country and Christmas is important for Christians and they alternate also.

Is not us

Oh, since we're all talking about stamps, PLEASE CONSIDER COLLECTING AND DONATING YOUR STAMPS rather than recycling them.

Cut them out leaving a 1cm border. My library has a collection box where I leave them, but some charities will send you an envelope or box to fill.

I'm more concerned about bishops in the house of lords and mandatory worship in schools than stamps, tbh.