These are NOT Forever Stamps!! Total of 16 stamps. MISTLETOE, symbolizes peace, according to ancient tradition, the custom of hanging Mistletoe in the house goes back to the ancient Druids. It is supposed to possess mystical powers which bring good luck to the household and ward off evil spirits. It was also used as a sign of love and friendship in Norse mythology and that's where the custom of kissing under Mistletoe comes from. HOLLY symbolizes the thorns placed upon Christ's head, the prickly leaves represent the crown of thorns that Jesus wore when he was crucified. The berries are the drops of blood that were shed by Jesus because of the thorns. In Scandinavia it is known as the Christ Thorn. The POINSETTIA is the traditional Christmas flower; the Hispanic priests used Poinsettias to decorate at the end of every pew, and Franciscan priests used the concept of blood sacrifices from Aztec tradition to have the poinsettia represent the blood of Christ to Catholics and Christians. Poinsettias bloom naturally in October signaling the coming of Christmas. EVERGREENS symbolize new life and resurrection in many ancient European cultures. The ancient Celts decorated with greens for protection and used greens in their winter holidays. They tied fruit and other objects to evergreen branches and decorated evergreen trees with candles to honor their gods. Evergreens remained alive and even bore berries and fruit despite the cold of winter, ancient Europeans carried these plants into their homes in hopes that these plants would give them the same qualities. The tradition of decorating the home with boughs of evergreen trees became a Christian tradition during the early Middle Ages. An 8th century legend has the German St. Boniface cut down an oak tree, a symbol of paganism, and an evergreen tree spout up in its place. The saint declared the evergreen tree a triumphant Christian symbol of everlasting life, as its boughs stay green all year.