World Post Day: Date, History, Theme, Celebration

The Universal Postal Union was established in the year 1874 in Bern, Switzerland and its anniversary is celebrated at 9th of October every year. The anniversary of the Universal Postal Union was declared as the World Post Day by the Universal Postal Union Congress in Tokyo, Japan in the year 1969.

World Post Day: 09 October

Approximately 150 countries take part in celebrating the World Post Day every year. Some of the countries promote their new postal services or products at this special day and reward their employees for good services. Most of the countries organize philatelic exhibitions and issue new stamps. Displaying posters on World Post Day in post offices as well as public places, conferences, seminars and workshops including cultural, sport, recreational activities are other activities. Speech is given by the high rank officers at this day about the history and achievements of the postal services.

The postal services has improved much in the 1600s and 1700s century as many countries has developed national postage systems to start the postal services between countries. Postal services play a great role in the daily life of human being by making the high level of access to digital communication.

World Post Day: Date

World Post Day is celebrated on 9th of October every year.

• 2024: 09 October, 2024 [Wednesday]
• 2025: 09 October, 2025 [Thursday]
• 2026: 09 October, 2026 [Friday]
• 2027: 09 October, 2027 [Saturday]

World Post Day: History

It was during 255 BC when the first known postal document was found in Egypt. During the 17th and 18th centuries, bilateral postal agreements were used to govern the exchange of mail among countries. By the 19th century, the network of bilateral agreements became so complex that it affected negatively the trade and commercial development of countries. Now the need arose for making this streamlined and simple at the international level.

In 1840, in England, Sir Rowland Hill introduced a system by which postage on letters had to be prepaid. Also, the same rates were charged for all letters with a certain range of weight in the domestic service, irrespective of the distance travelled. He also introduced the world’s first postage stamp.

During 1863, United States Postmaster General Montgomery Blair organised a conference in Paris. The delegates from 15 European and American countries associated with and interacted to lay down numerous general principles for mutual agreements. The demerit of this meeting was that nothing was established for the international postal agreement.

In Bern (1874), Heinrich Von Stephan, a senior postal official from the North German Confederation, formulated a plan for an international postal union. Based on his suggestion, the Swiss Government conducted an international conference in Bern on 15 September 1874, which was attended by 22 nations by their representatives.

On 9 October of the same year, World Post Day was started, by establishing the General Postal Union. In 1878, its name was changed to the Universal Postal Union.

The Treaty of Bern signed in 1874, succeeded in streamlining the international postal services and regulations into a single postal territory for the transactions and exchange of letters.

World Post Day: Celebrations

The celebration includes the participation of member countries to organise some programs and activities for generating awareness of the important role of Posts on a national level. More than 150 nations celebrate World Post Day every year in various ways. In some countries, this day is observed as a working holiday. In some countries, new postal products and services are introduced on this day. Even some Posts conduct rewards and recognition for their employees for excellent services.

Philatelic exhibitions are organised with the introduction of new stamps. Posters are also displayed with the theme of World Post Day in post offices and other public areas. Conferences, seminars and workshops are conducted along with cultural and recreational programs. Special souvenirs like T-shirts and badges are issued in some post offices.

Purpose of celebrating:

Themes: