Monday, December 8, 2008

Netherlands - Twelve Provincies 2002


The Netherlands is divided into twelve administrative regions, called provinces, each under a Governor, who is called Commissaris van de Koningin (Commissioner of the Queen), except for the province Limburg where the commissioner is called Gouverneur (Governor).
All provinces are divided into municipalities (gemeenten), 458 in total (1 January 2006).
The country is also subdivided in water districts, governed by a water board (waterschap or hoogheemraadschap), each having authority in matters concerning water management. As of 1 January 2005 there are 27. The creation of water boards actually pre-dates that of the nation itself, the first appearing in 1196. In fact, the Dutch water boards are one of the oldest democratic entities in the world still in existence.

Philippines 1963 - Philippine Folk Dances


Date of Issue: 15 September 1963
Printed: Thomas de la Rue and Co. Ltd., England.

5s Tinkling Dance
The tinikling is a pre-Spanish dance that involves two people beating, tapping, and sliding bmboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in between pole between the poles in a dance. The dance originated in islands in the central Philippines as an imitation of the tikling bird dodging bamboo traps set by rice farmers. The dance imitates the movement of the tikling birds by skillfully maneuvering between large bamboo poles.

6s Pandanggo sa ilaw (Dance of the Oil Lamps)
This dance originates from Lubang Island, Mindoro in Visayas. 'Pandanggo sa ilaw' means 'Fandango with light'.The term pandanggo comes from the Spanish word fandango, which is a dance characterized by marking time with a clack of castanets, snapping of fingers, and stomping of feet in triple-time rhythm. A dancer balances three oil lamps (tinghoy), or candles in glasses instead, balanced on her head and on the back of each hand while she dances.

10s Itik-Itik
Itk-Itik , a dance which originated in Mindanao, imotates the movements of ducks among rice paddies and swamplands, such as wading, flying, and short, choppy steps.

20c Singkil
The Singkíl originated from the Maranao people who inhabit the shores of Lake Lanoa in Mindanao. It is derived from a story in the Darangen, the Maranao epic song. The name of the dance itself means "to entangle the feet with disturbing objects such as vines or anything in your path". It is a popular dance performed during celebrations and other festive entertainment.

Hongkong, China - Traditional Costumes


Clothing, Traditional—Hong Kong

During the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), the local Hong Kong population wore the same garments, made of silk or cotton, as the rest of the Han Chinese (ethnic Chinese majority) mainlanders.

The changshan, or long gowns, for men, had a curved front opening on the right side, fastened with buttons and loops, and an upright collar. Silk was often used for summer garments; winter garments were wadded or lined with fur.

Women wore the ao, a knee-length dress styled like the changshan, with a full-length skirt consisting of front and back panels with pleats or godets (cloth inserts) at the sides to allow movement. The portion of the skirt that showed below the aoku, were worn under the ao, and these continued to be worn by women who performed physical labor. For middle- and upper-class women, accessories included an embroidered headband that concealed the plucked forehead, bound-foot shoes, and ankle covers. was originally heavily embroidered but later was made in plain black or other dark, undecorated fabric. Originally, loose baggy trousers, or

A version of these garments continued to be worn through the latter part of the twentieth century as part of traditional ceremonial dress. Changshan for men and qun gua, skirts and jackets, for women, and dajinshan, blouses with large lapels that fastened with huaniu (buttons and loops) to the right, had their origins in everyday dress of previous decades.

Greece - Traditional Dances

Greek Dances

Greek dance is a very old tradition, being referred to by ancient authors such as Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch and Lucian. There are many different styles and interpretations from all of the islands and surrounding mainland areas.

Each region formed its own choreography and style to fit in with their own ways. For example, island dances have more of a "watery" flow to them, while Pontic dancing closer to Black Sea, is very sharp.

There are over 4,000 traditional dances that come from all regions of Greece. There are also Pan Hellenic dances, which have been adopted throughout the Greek world. These include the tsamiko, syrtos, and kalamatianos. Traditional Greek dancing has a primarily social function. It brings the community together at key points of the year, such as Easter, the grape harvest or patronal festivals; and at key points in the lives of individuals and families, such as weddings. For this reason, tradition frequently dictates a strict order in the arrangement of the dancers, for example, by age.

Visitors tempted to join in a celebration should be careful not to violate these arrangements, in which the prestige of the individual villagers may be embodied.

Greek dances are performed often in diaspora Greek communities, and among international folk dance groups.

Greek Folk Dances

It is stated that there are hundreds of Folk dances in Greece; many more have been lost during the last decades before anyone had the chance to record them. Very often, the same dance is executed in different ways from one village to the next or from one island to the other.
Some dances have no name; they are simply the established way to move while singing a particular song. In other instances, we find that a dance was given the same name as a different dance from another region. Until the beginning of this century, most dances had no need for a name at all, since everyone in the village knew how to execute each particular song.
Even today, when one wants to dance he orders the musicians to play the song of his choice. Only when he has no preference does he order by the name of the dance. When professional musicians started travelling to play in distant villages, the need arose for a name to call one dance by which many different songs were danced.
Most dances are in open circle moving from the left to the right. The first dancer of the line, he who “pulls the dance”, has the leading role. He orders the song, he pays the musicians and he has the right to improvise variations on the basic step. Traditionally, women rarely led the dance, unless of course it was a women’s dance. A few dances were danced “face to face” by a couple and still fewer followed other formations.


Dominica - Creole World


The World Creole Music Festival is an annual music festival held in Festival City, Roseau, Dominica.

Music and dance are important facets of Dominica's culture.The annual independence celebrations show an outburst of traditional song and dance preceded since 1997 by weeks of Creole expressions such as "Creole in the Park" and the "World Creole Music Festival". Dominica gained prominence on the international music stage when in 1973.

Please help me to completed my lose stamps?

Thx & Brgds,


Faroe Islands - Nordic National Costumes 1983


National costume, (also: national dress, regional costume, folk dress or traditional garment), expresses an identity through costume which usually relates to a geographic area or a period of time in history, but can also indicate social, marital and/or religious status. Such costumes often come in two forms: one for everyday occasions, the other for festivals and formal wear.

It should be noted that in United States usage the term "costume" is used in the sense of "fanciful dress", and so "national dress" is used to avoid this connotation.

Following the outbreak of romantic nationalism, the peasantry of Europe came to serve as models for all that appeared genuine and desirable. Their dress crystallised into so-called "typical" forms, and enthusiasts adopted it as part of their symbolism.

In areas where contemporary Western fashions have become usual, traditional garments are often worn in connection with special events and celebrations, particularly those connected with cultural traditions, heritage, or pride.

National costumes of the nine Nordic nations:
250 Faroese Krone - Greenland, Sweden, Iceland
250 Faroese Krone - Sapmi, Denmark, Aland
250 Faroese Krone - Norway, Faroe Islands, Finland

Bangladesh - Wedding Costumes 1995




Technical Details:
Date of issue : 25 December 1995
Size of Stamp : 32 mm x 48 mm
Perforation : 12.5
Stamps In Each Sheet : 50
Stamps Color : Multicolor 
Printing Process : Offset 
Stamps Designer : Mr. Md. Shamsuzzoha/ Mr. Mozammel Huq/ Mr.Anowar Hossa
Printer : The Security Printing Corporation (BD) Ltd., Gazipur


Bengali wedding refers to both Muslim wedding and Hindu wedding in Bangladesh and West Bengal.
Although Muslim and Hindu marriages have their distinctive religious rituals, there are many common cultural rituals in marriages across religion among Bengali people.

A traditional wedding is arranged by Ghotoks (matchmakers), who are generally friends or relatives of the couple. The matchmakers facilitate the introduction, and also help agree the amount of any settlement.
In Bengali Muslim marriages another settlement to make which is called 'Mahr' or 'Kabin' to be paid by the groom to the bride - which is a religious requirement in Muslim marriages. The amount of the settlement is set so as to avoid too many zeroes in the amount, such as 10001 rather than 10000; the final zeroes being said by some to signify bad luck.
Bengali weddings are traditionally in four parts: the bride's Gaye Holud, the groom's Gaye Holud, the Beeye and the Bou Bhaat. These often take place on separate days. The first event in a wedding is an informal one: the groom presents the bride with a ring marking the "engagement" which is gaining popularity. This can sometimes be considered as Ashirwaad.
There can be subtle differences in Bangali Hindu marriages in Bangladesh and West Bengal. The rituals sometimes differ. Even in West Bengal people who moved from Bangladesh during pre-independence time still follows the tradition that is followed in Bangladesh today.
A Bengali Hindu Marriage can be divided into the following parts:
  • Pre-wedding Rituals: Adan Pradan, Patri Patra, Ashirvad, Aai Budo Bhaat, Vridhi, Dodhi Mangal, Holud Kota, Adhibas Tatva, Kubi Patta, Snan, Sankha Porano
  • Wedding Rituals: Bor Boron, Potto Bastra, Saat Paak, Mala Badal, Subho Drishti, Sampradan, Yagna, Saat Pak (couple), Anjali, Sindur Daan and Ghomta
  • Post-Wedding Rituals: Bashar Ghar, Bashi Biye, Bidaye, Bou Boron, Kaal Ratri, Bou Bhaat, Phool Sajja, Dira Gaman