One of the many ways that Caymanians celebrate the Christmas season is to attend a church service on December 25 – and in that spirit the Cayman Islands Postal Services has issued commemorative stamps which depict local places of worship.

There are three churches featured this year: South Sound Community Church, the Stake Bay Baptist Church, and the Little Cayman Baptist Church. This stamp issue differs from previous issues in that all three stamps reflect the local rate of 25¢ and for the first time, all the Christmas stamps will be available in self-adhesive booklets. The self-adhesive booklets are comprised of 12 stamps in all, depicting four images of each church. The standard “lick-and-stick” stamps which need to be moistened before being affixed to envelopes will be on sale as well.

“Earlier this year, the CIPS released the Sister Islands Traditional Homes stamp collection. This Christmas stamp issue embodies that same theme. These buildings depict places of worship and symbolize peace, both of which are also representative of the meanings of Christmas,” Postmaster General Sheena Glasgow said.

Christmas or Christmas Day Old English: Crīstesmæsse, meaning “Christ’s Mass” is an annual religious and cultural holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated on December 25 by billions of people worldwide and is the same in the Cayman Islands.

For more information on this stamp issue please contact the Philatelic Bureau at 946-4757 or the General Post Office   at 949-2474 or visit the CIPS website – www.caymanpost.gov.ky.

Christmas Hours Notice:

The Cayman Islands Postal Service plans to accommodate customers’ collection of Christmas packages by extending business hours at the Airport Post Office on Saturday, 20 December and Monday, 22 through Wednesday, 24 December.

Airport Post Office EXTENDED HOURS are:

Airport PO

• Saturday, 20th December 9am – 3 p.m
• Monday, 22nd December 8:15 – 7:00 p.m
• Tuesday, 23rd December 8:15 – 7:00 p.m
• Christmas Eve, 8:15am – 4pm
• 30th December, Closure at 12:30 p.m – Grand Cayman Staff Function
• New Year’s Eve, Closure at 12:30 pm

All Other Offices will close:

• Christmas Eve, 12:30pm
• 30th December, Closure at 12:30 p.m – Grand Cayman Staff Function
• Cayman Brac and Little Cayman offices will have regular closing hours
• New Year’s Eve, Closure at 12:30 p.m.

REQUIREMENTS: Incoming parcels, EMS or small pack items received by the Cayman Islands Postal Service by 23 December with an invoice will be processed for customers’ collection by Christmas Eve. Please note that Customs Department requires all packages that need to be assessed have an invoice, which may be emailed to [email protected] or faxed to 345-945-6876. Customers should also include the following information with their invoice:

1. The item’s tracking number (13 character number in the format of XX000 000 000 XX). The tracking number is essential to match the invoice to the package.
2. The addressee’s name and postal address
3. The addressee’s email address (if available)

To further assist the CIPS, customers may submit a Watch For Request (www.caymanpost.gov.ky) for any item with a tracking number. If the request includes a valid email address, the notice will be emailed to the customer as soon as the item is ready for collection.

Please note that hours of business for all other District Post Offices on Grand Cayman will be 8:30am to 12:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve (24 December) and New Year’s Eve (31 December)

All Grand Cayman Post Offices will close on 30 December at 12:30 p.m –to facilitate a staff function.

The Postmaster General Sheena Glasgow and CIPS staff wish customers a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year