8th May: World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.

May 8^th is World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day. Red Cross is an International humanitarian Movement founded to protect human life and health. It is celebrated on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the founder of the Red Cross movement Mr.Henry Dunant.  Did you know that the very first Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in the year 1901 to Henry Dunant and Frederic Passy? Since then, Red Cross has won the Nobel Prize in the years 1917, 1944 and in 1963.

The First Red Cross day was celebrated on 8^th May 1949.

The above stamp was issued by Hong Kong in the year 2013 to mark the 150th anniversary of the ICRC.  Perforations in the shape of a cross are used for the first time by Hong Kong Post to highlight the emblem of the ICRC.

The above First Day Cover was issued by Mauritius Post for the 150th Anniversary of the Red Cross.  You can see Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross on the left top corner of the emblem.