Holiday Theme Cachets - Page 1 of 2
By John Young (USCS #L-8219)
During the early 1930s, cover collectors began requesting holiday cancels from the Navy Mail Clerks. They would insert specific wording between the killer bars denoting specific holidays i.e., CHRISTMAS, THANKSGIVING & NAVY DAY, etc.
As more and more persons became interested in collecting naval covers, others got interested the business of producing cachets to dress up the left side of the envelope. One of the first cachets commemorated 1930 Navy Day. By 1932, there were nine sponsored cachets for Navy Day. Two years later there were 72 different cachets for Navy Day- 12 sponsored by USCS chapters, 28 sponsored by individual USCS members.
As the hobby expanded, so did the holiday theme of the cachets. These are some of the holidays that you might want to collect. Some are major holidays; while others are a day that the sponsor thought the collector might have an interest.
Usually celebrated on the night between December 31st & January 1st where people wish one another, a happy and prosperous coming year.
Lincoln’s Birthday (February 12th)
Abraham Lincoln, the16th President of the United States.
Valentine’s Day (February 14th)
A day (named after an early Christian martyr) where Americans give presents, usually candy and flowers, to the one they love.
Washington’s Birthday (February 22nd)
The birthday George Washington, of a “Hero of the American Revolutionary War” & the first President of the United States.
Presidents Day (3rd Monday in February)
During 1970s, Federal legislation combined Lincoln’s & Washington’s Birthday.
St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th)
A day celebrated by Irish- Americans to honor the patron saint of Ireland. Patrick brought Christianity to the pagan nation, using the shamrock to explain his religious belief. He died on March 17th in A.D. 461. It was first celebrated in Boston, MA in 1737.
Not a holiday, but a notable day celebrated in many countries, marked by hoaxes and other practical jokes aimed to embarrass the gullible. It stemmed from the change of the Julian to the Gregorian calendars.
First celebrated on May 1, 1928, the date was chosen in hopes to dampening the communists’ celebration of “Workers Day.” In 1929, the day was changed to April 6th, the anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War One. Observed nationally until 1949.
Easter (falls on spring Sunday that varies from year to year)
Celebrating the Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Observed annually (since 1950) on a day honoring the members of the Armed Forces of the United States.
Admiral George Dewey, hero of the Battle of Manila Bay and first four-star admiral with the title “Admiral of the Navy”.
Mother’s Day (2nd Sunday in May)
First observed in Philadelphia (1907) when children honored their mothers with cards, gifts and flowers. President Wilson’s proclamation (1914) made Mothers Day, a national observance to be held each year.
Originated in the aftermath of the Civil War, it has become a day which on the dead of all wars, are remembered in special programs held in cemeteries, churches and other public meeting places.
Father’s Day (3rd Sunday in June)
First observed in Spokane, WA (1909), where Mrs. Sonora Dodd thought to honor her father, while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon. President Johnson’s proclamation (1966) made Fathers Day, a national observance to be held each year.
Observed in the United States to commemorate (1777) the adoption of the Stars & Stripes by the Continental Congress.
The nation’s birthday was created with the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
Anniversary date of the establishment of a system of cutters founded by Alexander Hamilton for the protection of the coast of the United States (1790). The cutters later became the Revenue-Marine or the Revenue Cutter Service, and this service was merged with the U.S. Lifesaving Service to become the Coast Guard in January 1915.
A legal holiday (since 1894) celebrated on the first Monday in September in all states of the United States in honor of the working class. The day was initiated in 1882 by the Knights of Labor, who held a large parade in New York City. Two years later, the Knights held the parade on the first Monday in September and passed a resolution to hold all future parades on that day. In 1887, legislation was passed in Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey & New York making it a holiday.
It was first celebrated in New York City (1792) by the Society of St. Tammany or Columbian Order, which became widely known as “Tammany Hall.” October 12th was the day that Columbus first sighted the new world on his first voyage.