World Post Day – October 9, 2022, history significance
World Post Day is October 9 and we’re pumped for a throw back to communication methods of the past with some good old-fashioned letters. 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! World Post Day marks the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union, and it’s from this humble wellspring that the global communications revolution started and continues to this day.
History of World Post Day
The history of World Post Day date back to 1969. It was established by the Universal Postal Union Congress in Tokyo, Japan. Shri Anand Mohan Narula who was a member of the Indian delegation submitted the proposal.
The celebration of the day commemorates the date of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in Bern, Switzerland in the year 1874. It has been celebrated worldwide to highlight the significance of postal services.
The observance of the day brings awareness about the role and contribution of the Postal service in the day-to-day lives of people, business, social and economic development. The global communications revolution was started by the UPU that allowed people to write to others globally
Post organizations worldwide use this event to promote new services and raise awareness about the postal system. The postal services have improved much in the 1600s and 1700s century.
Many countries have developed national postage systems to begin the postal services between the countries. They have entered into mutual agreements for the exchange of posts between the countries. Montgomery Blair, Postmaster General of the United States of America, organized a conference in 1863.
It has 15 European and American countries representatives. The delegation had laid many general principles for mutual agreements on international postal services. It did not create an international postal agreement.
Heinrich von Stephan, a senior postal official in the North German Confederation, opened a conference in Berne, Switzerland on September 15, 1874, with delegates from 22 countries. The Treaty of Berne was signed by the representatives on October 9, 1874, and established the General Postal Union.
The General Postal Union members multiplied, and the union’s name was renamed the Universal Postal Union in the year 1878. The Universal Postal Union had become a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1948. From October 1 to November 16, 1969, the 16th Universal Postal Union Congress was held in Tokyo, Japan. The delegates during this conference voted to declare October 9 each year as World Post Day.
WORLD POST DAY TIMELINE
550 B.C.
First Postal Service Established
The first organized postal system originates in Ancient Persia on the orders of King Cyrus the Great.
225 B.C.
Oldest Piece of Mail Sent
The oldest example of an official post comes from third century B.C. Egypt.
1840
Postage Stamp Invented
Englishman Sir Rowland Hill introduces the world’s first postage stamp.
September 15, 1874
First Postal Conference Hosted
Representatives from 22 nations gather in Bern, Switzerland, to plan for an international postal union.
October 9, 1874
Treaty of Bern Held
The General Postal Union is established — later to be called the Universal Postal Union.
1969
World Post Day Established
The Universal Postal Congress in Tokyo establishes World Post Day.
5 AMAZING FACTS ABOUT THE POSTAL SYSTEM
It processes 5,000 letters a second
The U.S Postal Service processes more than 5,000 pieces of mail every second.
It receives no help from Uncle Sam
The USPS receives no tax dollars for operating expenses.
It has ancient English origins
The word “mail” comes from a Medieval English word referring to a traveler’s bag or pack.
It used to walk like an Egyptian
The earliest documented evidence of a courier system is from Egypt (around 2400 BC).
It started ZIP codes
ZIP stands for Zone Improvement Plan, begun in 1963 by the USPS.
How to Celebrate World Post Day
Celebrating World Post Day is very simple. Listen to the speech of high-ranking officials about the history or achievements of the national or international postal services. Spend some time with the philatelists to more about the postal day celebrations.
Bring particular attention to the children and adults about the postal services. Participate in the international letter-writing competition by the Universal Postal Union in collaboration with UNESCO. Special prizes will be awarded to the winners of the contest. Post and share your celebrations on social media using the hashtag #WorldPostDay.
