Moldova - Winter Customs and Traditions 2015

Technical Details:
Date of Issue: 4 December 2015
Width: 34.0 mm
Height: 34.0 mm
Denomination: 1.75 MDL, 9.50 MDL
Number in Set: 2 (show set)
Layout/Format: Sheet of 8
Perforations: 13 by 13
Stamps Designer: Iurie Palkov
Printer: Printing House Nova Imprim Chisinau Moldova
Stamp Issuing Authority: Ministére de la technologie de l’information et des communications Republique de Moldova

1.75 Moldovan Leu - Winter National Traditions and Customs - The Star (Steaua)
9.50 Moldovan Leu - Winter National Traditions and Customs - The Plough (Pluguşorul)

The Post of Moldova has already issued several sets of stamps in the past devoted to winter traditions and popular celebrations ("sărbători de iarnă") in the country and sometimes also in neighboring Romania.

On December 4, 2015, a new nice series (2 stamps) about that theme of winter popular customs and traditions ("datini şi obiceiuri de iarnă") was issued, in particular traditional processions, "Pluguşorul" and "Steaua", performed in Moldovan villages at this period of Christmas and New Year.

These two stamps, each printed in sheet of 8 stamps, are included on the nice FDC below (designed by Iurii Palkov, also the author of the stamps) with cancellation from Chişinău (MD-2012), issued only in 400 copies.

"Pluguşorul" (literally "the little plough"), on the L 9.50 stamp (print run : 300,000) is a very old secular custom referring to farming works. Groups of children and teenagers carrying a pluguşor, a small wooden stylized plough symbolizing fertility, are going from house to house, wearing masks, holding whips and bells and reciting poems glorifying farm work.

In the houses, they're being offered money and ring biscuits made from bread (present on the stamp, the illustration on the envelope and the postmark).

The other stamp (L 1.75, print run : 300,000) evokes the religious connotation tradition called "Steaua" ("Star") devoted to the birth of Christ. A procession of children brandishing a Steaua are going from house to house, where they sing Christmas carols.

During the period of Lent, children prepare this procession especially in making this star-shaped item (also featured on the stamp, the illustration on the envelope and the postmark), with in its center, an icon of the Virgin and Child, decorated with fir branches, ribbons, bells and various other colored accessories.