La Poste calendars show 27 EU states - without UK

The traditional ‘almanach’ calendars which are distributed by postmen and women in France around Christmas and New Year this year have a colourful cover with attractive photos, but also pages of useful information inside – which this year includes a map of the ‘27 states’ of the EU…

A reader has pointed this out to us and sent in the image above – we wonder if the calendar makers, Oberthur, who have had an agreement with La Poste to supply them to postal workers since 1854, have inside information on the outcome of the UK’s elections next week…

The traditional calendar has gone by various names such as Almanach des Postes, Almanach des PTT or Calendrier des Postes – but its official name since 1989 is Almanach du facteur.

It combines appealing images with a miscellany of information sometimes tailored to your department, ranging from natural beauty tips, seasonal fruits and vegetables, recipes, timetables of tides – or countries of the EU.

The calendar's images were originally drawn but have been photos since the 1960s and they have reflected the various historical periods including pictures of Maréchal Pétain or Général de Gaulle during and after the Second World War. However since then it has been associated with more relaxing images such as mountain scenery, kittens or birds.

Even so Oberthur insist that the calendars are not old-fashioned or twee and they have a wide choice of versions to suit all tastes, which this year include for example, fans of old cars or Johnny Hallyday.

If you rarely see your facteur you can leave a note on your post box to say you want them to call by with one, the firm says. There is no set price, but you give what you want to the facteur, as part of the seasonal tradition of étrennes.

The facteurs order the calendars themselves from the traditional makers, Oberthur from Cesson-Sévigné in Brittany, or one of three other firms now authorised to make them.