{"product_id":"forever-stamps-2017-christmas-carols-holiday-celebration-first-class-postage","title":"Christmas Carols 2017 Forever Stamps — Double-Sided Booklet of 20","description":"\u003ch2\u003eIssue facts\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIssued: October 5, 2017\u003cbr\u003eFirst Day City: New York, NY\u003cbr\u003ePrinted by: Banknote Corporation of America\u003cbr\u003eMethod: Offset\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Double-sided booklet of 20\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe man behind Santa Claus\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSanta is the most recognizable symbol of Christmas, and he is based on someone who actually lived: Saint Nicholas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorn to wealthy Christian parents who died in an epidemic while he was young, Nicholas was taken in by his uncle, a bishop of the same name. He was seriously devout, and he began quietly spending his inheritance on the sick and the poor — leaving gifts down chimneys at night. When a few people worked out who was responsible, he asked them to keep it quiet. He did not want the credit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow the tradition spread\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the Middle Ages, French nuns took up the practice, leaving pouches of coins, food and treats in the homes of the needy overnight. Asked where the gifts came from, they would say only that it must have been Saint Nicholas. Anonymous giving — and eventually the carols — grew out of that answer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOne carol in particular\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Jolly Old Saint Nicholas\" began as a poem by Emily Huntington Miller, published in December 1865 as \"Lilly's Secret.\" It was later set to James Lord Pierpont's 1857 melody for \"Jingle Bells.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Forever Stamp Center","offers":[{"title":"100 Stamps (5 Books)","offer_id":47100619227335,"sku":"ST17-A4-5","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"300 Stamps (15 Books)","offer_id":47100619260103,"sku":"ST17-A4-15","price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"500 Stamps (25 Books)","offer_id":47100619292871,"sku":"ST17-A4-25","price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1000 Stamps (50 Books)","offer_id":47100619325639,"sku":"ST17-A4-50","price":149.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5000 Stamps (250 Books)","offer_id":47100619358407,"sku":"ST17-A4-250","price":699.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0770\/6250\/4647\/files\/b-33-1-1_abeefef5-38d8-4c19-ad4f-deb2aca047d9.jpg?v=1788604475","url":"https:\/\/www.foreverstampcenter.com\/products\/forever-stamps-2017-christmas-carols-holiday-celebration-first-class-postage","provider":"center","version":"1.0","type":"link"}