Stamp Requests

Festival Folclórico de Parintins, also called Festival do Boi-Bumbá, Bumba Meu Boi, or simply Festival, is a popular annual celebration during three days in late June. In the Brazilian city of Parintins, Amazonas. It is one of the largest annual festivals in Brazil and the festival is recognized as a Cultural Heritage of Brazil by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage! The festival celebrates a local legend about a resurrected ox and it's a competition where two teams, Garantido - represented by a white ox with a red heart on its forehead and red details - and Caprichoso - represented by a black ox with a blue star on its forehead and blue details - each nightly performance is largely based on local Amazonian folklore and indigenous culture, but also incorporates contemporary Brazilian rhythms and themes. Suggestion for the stamp's appearance on the 6th photo!

Stamp with the kukeri where people perform traditional rituals in heavy clothes and bells with intent to scare away evil spirits. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukeri

All the scary characters of Nicaragua's myths and legends take to the streets of Monimbó in Masaya for the annual procession of “Los Agüizotes” on the last Friday in October. The name is derived from the Nahuatl words 𝘢𝘩𝘶𝘪 (water) and 𝘻𝘰𝘵𝘭 (horror). Sometimes called Nicaragua's Halloween, the festival is part of the celebrations in honor of San Jerónimo, Masaya's patron saint. Masked revelers, dressed as horned devils, and local spooks, including “La Cegua” (the horse-faced woman), “El Cadejo” (the demon dog), “La Llorona” (the weeping woman), and “El Padre sin cabeza” (the headless priest), hold candles and torches and shuffle through the town to the sound of 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘴. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiesta_de_los_Ag%C3%BCizotes https://ticotimes.net/2023/10/28/spine-chilling-masks-at-nicaraguas-aguizotes-fest https://www.laprensalatina.com/ghosts-haunt-nicaragua-on-the-night-of-los-aguizotes/

Indonesian folklores are very rich. The stamp set could include the following (most) famous folklores: Bawang Merah Bawang Putih ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bawang_Merah_Bawang_Putih ) Timun Mas ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timun_Mas ) Malin Kundang ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malin_Kundang ) Si Kancil ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kancil_Story ) Sangkuriang ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangkuriang ) Jaka Tarub & 7 Angels ( https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legenda_Jaka_Tarub )

Brazilian Mythology is very rich. The stamp set could include the following creatures: Bumba Meu Boi ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumba_Meu_Boi ) Boto ( https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/11/pink-dolphin-botos-brazil-amazon/617080/ ) Caipora ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caipora ) Curupira ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curupira ) Iara ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iara_(mythology) ) Mula Sem Cabeça ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headless_Mule ) Saci ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saci_(Brazilian_folklore) ) Other possible creatures are mentioned in this article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_mythology

The Gilles are the oldest and principal participants in the Carnival of Binche in Belgium. They go out on Shrove Tuesday from 4 am until late hours and dance to traditional songs. The Carnival of Binche was proclaimed one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The outfit features a linen suit with red, yellow, and black heraldic designs (the colours of the Belgian flag), trimmed with large white-lace cuffs and collars. The suit is stuffed with straw, giving the Gille a hunched back. Gilles also wear wooden clogs and have bells attached to their belts. In the morning, they wear a wax mask of a particular design. After reaching the town hall, they remove these masks for the afternoon. During the afternoon parade, Gilles throw blood oranges to the crowd or at its members, and some wear large, white, feathered hats. Gilles carry ramons, tied bunches of twigs that are said to ward off evil spirits, and baskets in which to carry the oranges. (Copied from Wikipedia)

If you're looking for a unique cultural experience, look no further than the Východná Folklore Festival in Slovakia. This festival, held annually in June or July, celebrates the rich folklore and traditions of the country's eastern region. During the festival, visitors can witness traditional folk dances, listen to authentic folk music, and see beautifully-crafted folk costumes. You can also try your hand at traditional crafts and taste local cuisine. This festival is a true celebration of Slovak culture, and it's not to be missed. One of the highlights of the festival is the "Pavol Dobšinský's Východná Folklore Competition", which brings together the best folklore groups from across Slovakia to compete in various categories. The competition is named after the famous Slovak folklorist Pavol Dobšinský, who is known for his extensive collection of Slovak folk tales and traditions. The festival takes place in the village of Východná, located in the foothills of the Tatra Mountains. The village is famous for its beautiful wooden architecture and picturesque scenery, making it the perfect setting for this celebration of Slovak folklore. So if you're interested in experiencing the rich traditions and folklore of Slovakia's eastern region, be sure to plan a visit to the Východná Folklore Festival. It's an unforgettable experience that will leave you with a deeper appreciation for Slovak culture. https://slovakia.travel/en/the-vychodna-folklore-festival https://festivalvychodna.sk/2022/en/

The beautiful medieval city of Hamelin (Germany) is visited by around 4 million tourists each year, many of whom go there to visit the place they heard about as little children: the city of the Pied Piper . The legend of the Pied Pier dates back to the Middle Ages. The earliest references describes a piper, dressed in multicolored ("pied") clothing, who was a rat catcher hired by the town to lure rats away with his magic pipe. When the citizens refused to pay for this service as promised, he retaliated by using his instrument's magical power on their children, leading them away as he had the rats. This version of the story spread as folklore and has appeared in the writings of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the Brothers Grimm, and Robert Browning , among others. Source: Wikipedia Magic pipe aside, the meaning of the events in this story remains unclear to this day and there are many different theories about it. Some suggest the Pied Piper was a symbol of hope to the people of Hamelin, which had been attacked by plague; he drove the rats from Hamelin, saving the people from the epidemic. Here is an interesting BBC article about it, which also suggests the story is based on an actual historic incident. The Pied Piper is known to everyone in Germany as "der Rattenfänger von Hameln" and also to millions of people around the world. I believe this character would make a perfect premium stamp and a very much needed alternative to the ones with traditional food.

A beloved myth in Scotland and a much celebrated 'character'

I chose United states as the category because I can't choose multiple countries, but I believe a Cryptid stamp set would be very very interesting!! It could feature popular cryptids such as; the Loch Ness monster (more affectionately known as Nessie), the Abominable Snowman (also known as the Yeti), Mothman, Chupacabra, Bigfoot, and maybe the Jackalope or the Mongolian Death Worm. I don't know too much about cryptids, so there could definitely be more common ones that'd be better suited together-- or there could be a "rare" cryptid set, that showcases less commonly known ones so people can learn more about different cultures and their myths and/or folklore! I just know that I, personally, would love to see it. :]]