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Sunday, 8 December 2013

Christmas from Austria

On Thursday I got a nice First Day Cover from Austria.

This is how the FDC looks like:


On the FDC are three different Christmas stamps:


125th anniversary of the death of Franz Xaver Gruber-Silent Night (issued 29-11-2013)

Silent Night was first written as Christmas Poem by Joseph Mohr, but Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863) set the poem to music. It was premiered on 24th December 1818 in Oberndorf. The stamp shows Franz Xaver Gruber and the "„Stille Nacht“-Kapelle" in Oberndorf.
Lyrics:
Original:
Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Alles schläft. Einsam wacht
Nur das traute heilige Paar.
Holder Knab’ im lockigten Haar,
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!
Common Lyrics:
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!
Alles schläft, einsam wacht
Nur das traute, hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh.
English Version:
Silent night, Holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round young virgin , mother and child
Holy infant so, tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace!


Shepherds at the Crib (issued 29-11-2013)

The stamp shows the a part of the High Altar in St. Michael in Lungau. Actually the First Day Special Postmark is only for this stamp, but in Austria you can use the First Day Special Postmarks also for other stamps as on this FDC.


St. Georgenberg (issued 15-11-2013)

The stamp was designed by Reinhold Stecher (1921-2013). Reinhold Stecher was since 1951 Doctor of Sacred Theology and since 1980 Bishop. He designed six Christmas stamps in the last years and this Christmas stamp of this year.

Thank You very much Marco!

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