First day of our Christmas commemorative stamps – Nativity of Christ, Parish Church of St Leonhard and Christmas trees

Christmas – Nativity of Christ, Parish Church of St Leonhard

Historic stained glass windows

The Christmas stamp depicts an elaborate Gothic stained glass window from the church, showing the Holy Family with the newborn Christ Child.

The parish and pilgrimage church of St Leonhard is located just outside Bad St Leonhard in the Lavant Valley in Carinthia. A Chapel of St Leonhard already existed here in the 12th century; the present church was built in the early 14th century and is considered one of the most beautiful Gothic sacred buildings in Carinthia. It is a so-called chain church: a continuous forged “Leonhard chain” encircles the entire building. This feature is based on a legend of Saint Leonard of Limoges, the patron saint of prisoners and livestock.
The imposing three-aisled basilica is renowned for its colourful stained glass windows—the most extensive collection of Gothic stained glass paintings in the region. Dating from around 1340 to 1400, the windows originate from workshops in Judenburg, which were famous for their craftsmanship. Around 140 stained glass panels depict scenes from the life of Christ, including the Nativity of Christ shown on the stamp, as well as scenes from the life of Saint Leonard. In order to rebuild the church tower after a fire, some of the stained glass panels were sold to the United States in the 1920s; today they are on display at The Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. During the Second World War, the remaining valuable stained glass panels were removed for safekeeping, securely stored, and after the war restored and reinstalled in a different order.

Christmas – Christmas trees

Oh Christmas tree!

The Christmas tree is not only a traditional element of the festive season, but for many people an indispensable part of Christmas celebrations.

Evergreen trees and branches were already regarded as symbols of hope during the cold season in pre-Christian times, particularly around the winter solstice. The Christmas tree may be rooted in medieval Paradise plays, which reenacted the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise on 24 December, using a tree hung with apples to represent the “Tree of Knowledge”. Where and when the first decorated Christmas tree was actually put up is difficult to determine; what is certain, however, is that the custom gradually became established. Over time, trees were decorated not only with fruit, nuts and paper ornaments, but also with sweets and candles. For a long period, the Catholic Church rejected the tradition as pagan; it was not until the 18th and 19th centuries that the Christmas tree found its way first into aristocratic households and later into popular custom.

Today, decorated Christmas trees can be found in most living rooms, as well as in shops, churches and public buildings. Whether adorned with shiny baubles or decorations made from natural materials, there is something to suit every taste. The Christmas trees shown on the stamp are reduced to simple geometric shapes: triangles become trees, squares and circles turn into Christmas decorations, and lines represent tinsel. Rendered in elegant shades of green and gold, this creates a timeless and festive Christmas stamp.

When? 
14 November 2025, 11 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Presentation at 2:30 p.m.

Where? Gsodamhaus, Hauptplatz 15, 9462 Bad St. Leonhard im Lavanttal

Group photo: Picture 1
Photo of presentation: © Ö. Post AG

Group photo, left to right: Wilhelm Remes (President, Austrian Philately Association St. Gabriel), Dieter Dohr (mayor), Dean Geistl. Martin Edlinger (Priest, Bad St. Leonhard i. L.),  Christian Gsodam (senior consultant for strategic communication and foresight at the European External Action Service), Martina Prinz (interim head of philately at Austrian Post), Rosmarie Schiestl (diocese conservator at Gurk diocese), Robert Geyer-Kubista (Geyer-Glasmanufaktur)