# new 37-c Arabic stamp **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 2, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-37-c-arabic-stamp/139960 "2002-12-02T15:02:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jerevan\_Somerville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@Jerevan\_Somerville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jerevan_Somerville)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-37-c-arabic-stamp/139960/1 "2002-12-02T15:02:43Z")
The US Postal Service has a beautiful new 37-cent stamp out for the holidays with Arabic calligraphy on it. I believe that the script is the opening verse of the Qu’ran: “In the name of Allah the Compassionate, the Merciful…” (or words to that effect) but that’s not my question. In the upper left corner of the stamp it reads “EID”. Presumably this is an acronym. What does it mean? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-37-c-arabic-stamp/139960/2 "2002-12-02T15:16:00Z")
[Eid al-Fitr](http://www.lbcma.org.uk/festivals/Meidalfitr.html) is: > [@](#): > > This Muslim festival comes at the end of Ramadan, when Muslims fast for 30 days (eating only at night), the fast is ended by the eating of a date. The day of celebration starts with prayer at the Mosque. Families will also visit graves and pray for those who have died. New clothes will be worn and after a lavish breakfast the family will go out and visit family and friends, greeting each other with ‘Eid Mubarak’, ‘Blessed Eid’, ‘Happy Eid’. Cards and gifts will be exchanged, particularly sweets. ---
**Author:** ![Jerevan\_Somerville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@Jerevan\_Somerville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jerevan_Somerville)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-37-c-arabic-stamp/139960/3 "2002-12-02T15:36:08Z")
**Lsura** , thanks for the info and the links! ---
**Author:** ![Damascene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19adc/32.png) [@Damascene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damascene)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-37-c-arabic-stamp/139960/4 "2002-12-02T17:33:37Z")
Hi! As as practicing Muslim, I’ve gotta say that that’s actually a pretty accurate description. We’re actually quite close to the end of Ramadhan right now, with Eid expected on either Thursday 5th Dec or Friday 6th Dec. We traditionally break our fast at sunset with water and dates, but as I’m usually in the office around then, I tend to start with a cup of coffee. After that, it;s just a boring sandwhich at my desk to tide me over until I get home for a nice hot-home cooked meal…aaaahhhh!! As for Eid itself, I remember dressing up nice and being hauled around various relatives houses to have my head patted and my cheeks pinched. The main reason I put up with it was the frequent gifts of money and sweets 😃 I’ve unfortunately outgrown that now, but I still enjoy the wonderful sense of community and Family that we share at Eid. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-37-c-arabic-stamp/139960/5 "2002-12-02T17:39:28Z")
Wasn’t that stamp out last year? It’s beautiful–I bought a bunch of them. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-37-c-arabic-stamp/139960/6 "2002-12-02T18:40:46Z")
I was curious so I went to find [a picture of the stamp](http://shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/display_products/productDetail.jsp?OID=2689760&BV_UseBVCookie=yes). It is pretty sweet-looking. ---
**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-37-c-arabic-stamp/139960/7 "2002-12-02T21:34:16Z")
They’re even more beautiful in real life–I love the color combination. They were out last year too, despite protests from certain people. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-37-c-arabic-stamp/139960/8 "2002-12-02T21:48:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by booklover \* > \*\*They’re even more beautiful in real life–I love the color combination. They were out last year too, despite protests from certain people. \*\* The web site linked says the issue date is 10/10/02. Perhaps last years stamp was similar? ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-37-c-arabic-stamp/139960/9 "2002-12-02T21:51:13Z")
I found last years stamp on the site. Same design, lower price! ---
**Author:** ![Damascene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19adc/32.png) [@Damascene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damascene)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-37-c-arabic-stamp/139960/10 "2002-12-03T13:01:43Z")
I know this isn’t your question, but the Arabic Script on the stamp says “Eid Mubarak”, which means “Happy Eid”. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-37-c-arabic-stamp/139960/11 "2002-12-03T13:26:50Z")
BTW, Welcome to the boards Damascene. Your imput into certain topics (if, of course, you wish to participate) would be extremely welcomed. Hope you had a right ding dong of a Ramadan 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Damascene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19adc/32.png) [@Damascene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damascene)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-37-c-arabic-stamp/139960/12 "2002-12-03T13:36:12Z")
Thanks **Twist**. I’ve actually been sharing my two cents on some of the GD threads, although I have to say that if anyone has any questions about Islam and Muslims, **Muslimguy** is by far the best person to answer them. Haven’t seen him around the board for a while, though. Anyway, sorry to hijack. The stamp is definitely very beautiful. Shame we don’t have anything like it in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Jerevan\_Somerville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@Jerevan\_Somerville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jerevan_Somerville)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-37-c-arabic-stamp/139960/13 "2002-12-03T15:01:41Z")
{b]Damascene\*\*, not a hijack at all. Thanks for the accurate translation; that was my secondary question. I just now realized that I could’ve compared the writing on the stamp with the Arabic on the back of my Turkish “anti-evil eye” charm, which does read “In the name of Allah…” etc. Anyway, it is a beautiful stamp – again, though I didn’t see it last year. _Eid mubarak_!