The xhubleta, one of the most distinctive elements of Albania’s cultural heritage, now features on a new postage stamp.

Prime Minister Edi Rama announced today that the new philatelic issue by Albanian Post aims to promote the history, values and symbolism of the traditional garment.

“The xhubleta, this precious part of our cultural heritage, has now been preserved on a postage stamp, bringing its symbolism, beauty and history closer to us,” Rama said.

For centuries, communities in northern Albania have preserved the xhubleta as one of the country’s oldest and most distinctive expressions of folk culture.

Its characteristic shape, colors, ornaments and symbols reflect the memory and worldview of the communities that have passed the tradition from one generation to the next.

Each element of the xhubleta requires knowledge, craftsmanship and time. Artisans combine traditional techniques and symbolism to create more than a garment. They create a powerful symbol of identity.

The photographs of the Marubi collection also preserve the xhubleta as a record of a particular era, region and the women who wore it with pride. These images capture more than its appearance. They also preserve the story of a world whose cultural legacy continues to speak to the present.

In 2022, UNESCO added the traditional craftsmanship of the xhubleta to its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

That international recognition brings both pride and responsibility. Albania must continue to preserve this knowledge, pass it on to future generations and keep the tradition alive.

Through the new philatelic issue, the xhubleta now takes on another role. The postage stamp turns its image into a historical record and a symbol of Albanian culture. It carries the garment from photography to philately and from national memory to international attention.

/a.c/