Post offices in Taichung as well as Miaoli and Yunlin counties have jointly launched Matsu-themed merchandise.
The Baishatun Matsu Pilgrimage organized by Gongtian Temple (拱天宮) in Miaoli County, which began on April 12, is scheduled to end today. It set a new historical record with an estimated 460,000 registered participants.
Miaoli Post Office introduced a Baishatun Matsu customized stamp set, including postcards featuring a cartoon-style Matsu.
Photo courtesy of Chunghwa Post
It said that it offered 2,500 sets for purchase this year and that only 300 sets are left for sale at the Baishatun Post office branch today when the goddess Matsu is scheduled to return to Gongtian Temple.
The nine-day Matsu pilgrimage organized by Taichung’s Dajia Zhenlan Temple (大甲鎮瀾宮) began on Friday last week. Taichung Post Office said it has published the Dajia Matsu International Tourism and Cultural Festival folding-screen stamp album, adding that each album has undergone a ritual blessing.
Each set includes a themed postcard, a coin purse featuring the post office’s mascot, Bobo Pigeon (波波鴿), and a chibi-style Matsu in the Dajia Zhenlan Temple, as well as Matsu blessing stickers.
The set is only available for purchase at a temporary post office in front of the Dajia Zhenlan Temple on the first day and the last day of the pilgrimage, which is Sunday.
The Yunlin Post Office published stamps featuring a ceremonial palanquin of Matsu in Beigang Chaotian Temple (北港朝天宮) and is selling keychains featuring the temple’s ritual flags.
The temple’s century-old ceremonial palanquin is an important cultural symbol, the post office said.
Customers who purchase two sets of the personalized stamps would receive a keychain as a complimentary gift, it added.
Since pre-orders opened on April 10, 3,000 stamp sets have been sold, with about 1,000 sets remaining, the post office said.
The items are expected to sell out by early next month, it said.
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