Paris, France, 1891. Thousands of paper dots appear to fall from the sky-spinning, dancing, playing chase-as they make their way to the ground. Confetti is born.

Since making its modest debut-as simple decoration remnants from a celebration at the infamous Casino de Paris-confetti has become a common sight at weddings and other special occasions around the world. Machines have been automating the production of confetti for more than 100 years. Today, this universal symbol of celebration is made primarily from plastic and paper, and produced in a variety of colours and imaginative shapes.

Confetti and another festive favourite, ribbon, are the main images captured on Canada Post's new Celebration stamp. Issued on January 15, 2007, this domestic rate (52¢) stamp is the perfect adornment for letters, invitations, notices and other mail that celebrates life's special events.

Like confetti, ribbons are associated with special moments. In addition to wrapped packages dressed with ribbons, for example, bridal flowers and other decorative accessories are adorned with flowing ribbon streamers to make them look festive and joyful. Capturing a sense of happiness and joy is exactly what stamp designer Karen Smith of Trivium Design Inc., succeeds in doing with her colourful and energetic Celebration stamp.

When choosing images for the stamp, the only items that were "off limits" were balloons, because these were featured on the popular 2006 Birthday stamp. Other design criteria included choosing design elements that would apply to a broad range of special days such as weddings, birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, retirements, and a host of other significant milestones. Smith believes that part of the reason the confetti and ribbon design was chosen was because it symbolically represents just about any celebration imaginable.

"Ribbons can be used to wrap gifts or as decorative streamers. And confetti is a symbol for weddings and parties. The colours are bright, cheery and warm, to create a festive feeling," says Smith, who made her own confetti for the stamp by punching assorted coloured papers.

"This stamp is not only contemporary and fun," says Liz Wong, Manager of Stamp Design and Production at Canada Post. "It's also highly effective in its visual messaging. Smith combines two very simplistic elements-confetti and ribbon-to create a unique and universal stamp that's ideal for so many different occasions."