World Post Day is celebrated on October 9 every year to mark the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) which was started in 1874 in Switzerland. Countries across the world participate in celebrations of the day to highlight the importance of postal service.
Origins of what we now know as the postal service date to Ancient Egypt circa 2500 BC, while the oldest official postal service is found in 550 BC Iran. Various civilizations utilized a courier service to pass letters, messages, news, and parcels across empires spanning thousands of miles, inspiring the modern idea of the mailman. The US’s own postal service dates back to Benjamin Franklin as the first postmaster general in 1775.
Before the digital communication came into our lives, sending letters by post was the only option and if it was an urgent message – it was the telegraph, which revolutionized long-distance communication. It worked by transmitting electrical signals over a wire laid between stations. The day was declared by the 1969 UPU Congress in Tokyo, Japan. The day was proposed by Shri Anand Mohan Narula, a member of the Indian delegation. Since then, World Post Day has been observed every year on October 9. Mail carrier services have been in existence since ancient times, and even though we can communicate almost anything (literally) at the touch of a button, there’s no denying the importance of our local postal services…or the excitement of receiving a package in the mail
We celebrate World Post Day to bring awareness about the role of people engaged in postal services. Historically posts have a big contribution to the development of businesses and economic activities globally. Universal Postal Union (UPU) paved the way for efficient postal services and it became an agency of the United Nations in 1948.
The first known postal document, found in Egypt, dates back to 255 BC. However, postal services existed on nearly every continent in the form of messengers serving kings and emperors even before that.
The Penny Black was the world’s first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system. It was first issued in Great Britain, on 1 May 1840, but was not valid for use until 6 May.
The day aims to spread awareness about the Post’s role in the everyday lives of people and businesses and its contribution to global social and economic development. The UPU’s three strategic pillars are innovation, integration and inclusion. The Post has a network of more than 6.5 lakh offices and 53 lakh staff globally. It has the ability to deliver services to anyone, anywhere.
More than 150 countries celebrate the day every year. The day is observed with programmes and activities creating awareness about the Post’s role. Nations also promote new postal products and services to celebrate the day. Some countries observe the day as a working holiday.
Many postal administrations issue special souvenirs such as T-shirts and badges. Some Posts reward their employees to mark the day. The UPU organises letter-writing competition for young writers aged 9-15 on a given theme to make them aware of the importance of postal services.
Postal services across the world played a key role in reaching out to people amid the pandemic. Life-saving medicines and protective equipment were delivered on time in remote corners. World Post Day is a great opportunity to pay tribute to the postal operators, postal workers and everyone else involved in delivering mails.
Postal services are coming up with new and creative ways to keep the post moving even during the coronavirus pandemic. Posts have stepped in to offer everything from delivering critical personal protective equipment, testing kits and medications, to ensuring children receive their educational materials to continue their schooling from home. This year, the celebrations of World Post Day will be held virtually.
The year 2020, however, was the year that the postal industry showed the world its resilience, its determination, and the invaluable role it plays in every society. We showed we are more than mail. The day is not celebrated according to a certain dedicated theme. It is an overall celebration of the postal industry and its contribution.
World Post Day is a great opportunity to pay tribute to the postal operators, postal workers and everyone else involved in delivering mails.
