recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Temple Mount

**Temple Mount** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Israel**.

## Information

"***The Temple Mount*** (Hebrew: הַר הַבַּיִת‎, Har HaBáyit, "Mount of the House [of God, i.e. the Temple in Jerusalem]"), known to Muslims as the Haram esh-Sharif (Arabic: الحرم الشريف‎, al-Ḥaram al-Šarīf, "the Noble Sanctuary", or الحرم القدسي الشريف, al-Ḥaram al-Qudsī al-Šarīf, "the Noble Sanctuary of Jerusalem") and the Al Aqsa Compound, is a hill located in the Old City of Jerusalem that for thousands of years has been venerated as a holy site in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam alike.

The present site is a flat plaza surrounded by retaining walls (including the Western Wall) which was built during the reign of Herod the Great for an expansion of the temple. The plaza is dominated by three monumental structures from the early Umayyad period: the al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock and the Dome of the Chain, as well as four minarets. Herodian walls and gates, with additions from the late Byzantine and early Islamic periods, cut through the flanks of the Mount. Currently it can be reached through eleven gates, ten reserved for Muslims and one for non-Muslims, with guard posts of Israeli police in the vicinity of each. "

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
St. Lucy's Day

**Saint Lucy's Day** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit some countries.

## Information

**Saint Lucy's Day**, also called the **Feast of Saint Lucy**, is a Christian feast day observed on 13 December. The observance commemorates Lucia of Syracuse, an early-fourth-century virgin martyr under the Diocletianic Persecution, who according to legend brought food and aid to Christians hiding in the Roman catacombs, wearing a candle lit wreath on her head to light her way and leave her hands free to carry as much food as possible. Her feast day, which coincided with the shortest day of the year prior to calendar reforms, is widely celebrated as a festival of light. Falling within the Advent season, Saint Lucy's Day is viewed as a precursor of Christmastide, pointing to the arrival of the Light of Christ in the calendar on Christmas Day.

Saint Lucy's Day is celebrated most widely in Scandinavia and in Italy, with each emphasising a different aspect of her story. In Scandinavia, where Lucy is called Santa/Sankta Lucia, she is represented as a lady in a white dress symbolizing a baptismal robe and a red sash symbolizing the blood of her martyrdom, with a crown or wreath of candles on her head.

In Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Swedish-speaking regions of Finland, as songs are sung, girls dressed as Saint Lucy carry cookies and saffron buns in procession, which symbolizes bringing the Light of Christ into the world's darkness. In both Catholic and Protestant churches, boys participate in the procession as well, playing different roles associated with Christmastide, such as that of Saint Stephen or generic gingerbread men, Santa Clauses, or nisses. The celebration of Saint Lucy's Day is said to help one live the winter days with enough light.

A special devotion to Saint Lucy is practised in the Italian regions of Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige, in the north of the country, and Sicily, in the south, as well as in the Croatian coastal region of Dalmatia. In Hungary and Croatia, a popular tradition on Saint Lucy's Day involves planting wheat grains that grow to be several centimetres tall by Christmas Day, representing the Nativity of Jesus.

Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp could be purchased on the shop when you log into your account while inside the country.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Baba Marta

**Baba Marta** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Bulgaria during this special day .

## Information

**Baba Marta** (Bulgarian: Баба Марта, "Granny March") is the name of a Bulgarian mythical figure who brings with her the end of the cold winter and the beginning of the spring. Her holiday of the same name is celebrated in Bulgaria on March 1 with the exchange and wearing of martenitsi. Baba Marta folklore is also present in southeastern Serbia, namely in the municipalities of Bosilegrad and Dimitrovgrad, where there is a majority ethnic Bulgarian population living there. This is done as a reference as to a freezing weather change after a spring break.

Bulgarians celebrate on March 1 a centuries-old tradition and exchange martenitsi on what is called the day of Baba Marta. The tradition of giving friends red-and-white interwoven strings brings health and happiness during the year and is a reminder that spring is near.

Baba Marta ("Grandma March") is believed to be a feisty lady who always seems to be grudging at her two brothers, January and February, while the sun only comes out when she smiles. As folklore there are different versions of the Baba Marta tale. One says that on that day she does her pre-spring cleaning and shakes her mattress for the last time before the next winter - all the feathers that come out of it pour on Earth like snow - the last snow of the year. This story can also be found in German folklore, for instance in the "Frau Holle" or Mother Hulda legend.

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Vietnam Family Day

**Vietnam Family Day** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Vietnam during this special day.

## Information

Vietnam is a country that is very connected to its core cultural values, based mainly on ‘Confucianism’ — which means that Vietnamese people are big fans of respect, education, harmony, and loyalty to family. In western countries, there’s a tendency toward individualism, while in eastern countries — such as Vietnam — the trend is to see family as a unit in itself. Children are expected to look after their parents, besides treating them with uttermost respect. There’s also an expectation for all members of the family to provide for the household.

It’s a tradition in Vietnamese culture for many generations of the same family to live under the same roof. Families can derogate a member who’s not providing proper conditions for other household members and also announce their achievements to their community. It’s also a tradition for the older male to be the head of the household and children are educated from a young age on ‘filial piety’ — which means that younger members of the family should treat older members with respect and care.

To keep these cultural aspects alive in the mind of the people of Vietnam, in 2001, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem promulgated the **Vietnamese Family Day**, which is to be celebrated every year on June 28. On this day families from all around the country gather to celebrate, whether it be at home or at festivals downtown.

Text and image from nationaltoday.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Turkish Sweets

**Turkish Sweets (Türk Tatlıları)** is a serie of stamps in SLOWLY. This can be purchased on the Stamp Store while you visit Turkey.

## Information

**Turkish Sweets** commemorates examples of desserts in the cuisine of Turkey and the Turkish diaspora. It is largely the heritage of Ottoman cuisine, which can be described as a fusion and refinement of Mediterranean, Balkan, Middle Eastern, Central Asian and Eastern European cuisines.

*Text and links from Wikipedia.*

Turkish Sweets Serie

Text and from Wikipedia

## Method

This stamps serie could be purchased on the Stamp Store when you log into your SLOWLY account while inside the country.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Tag des deutschen Apfels

**Tag des deutschen Apfels** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit Germany.

## Information

**German Apples day** is actually the name of the campaign Because Evеrуоnе is familiar with the well-known proverb that аn apple a day kеерѕ thе doctor away. Germany decided tо start a ѕресiаl program leading tо popularization оf local apple treas аnd encouraging people tо eat mоrе apples because it keep them away from doctor and make them healthy. Thiѕ campaign iѕ knоwn аѕ German Apples day аnd it annually falls оn January 11.

**German Apples day** wаѕ started in 2010 bу thе National Association оf Fruit аnd Vegetables Producers аѕ a раrt оf a campaign “Germany – Mу Garden”. Thе mаin objective оf thе campaign iѕ tо draw public attention tо apple trees аnd make thеm mоrе popular асrоѕѕ thе country and also to focus on eating fruits .

**German Apples day** iѕ nоt a holiday fоr аnу apple trees. It’ѕ a holiday оnlу fоr local apples, bесаuѕе thеу аrе considered tо bе thе mоѕt important аnd nutritious fоr people living there. Bу thе way, apples аrе thе mоѕt commonly eaten fruit in Germany, аnd thе indigenous varieties оf apples, likе Braeburn, Jonagold, аnd Elstar, аrе thе mоѕt popular through out thе nation.

**German Apples day** iѕ celebrated bу giving оut hundreds оf thousands оf apples in fivе major cities in Germany. Evеrу year mоrе аnd mоrе German apples аrе distributed аmоng schools, kindergartens аnd passers-by fоr free to appreciate **German Apples day**.

Text and image from nationalextras.

## Method

This stamp could be purchased on the shop when you log into your account while inside the country.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Angola

## Information

**Angola**, officially the **Republic of Angola**, is a country on the west coast of Southern Africa. It is the second-largest Lusophone country in both total area and population, and is the seventh-largest country in Africa.

It is bordered by Namibia to the south, the DR Congo to the north, Zambia to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

Angola has been inhabited since the Paleolithic Age. Its formation as a nation-state originates from Portuguese colonisation, which initially began with coastal settlements and trading posts founded in the 16th century. In the 19th century, European settlers gradually began to establish themselves in the interior. After a protracted anti-colonial struggle, Angola achieved independence in 1975.
*Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Taiwan

## Information

**Taiwan**, officially the **Republic of China** (**ROC**), is a country in East Asia. It shares maritime borders with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast, and the Philippines to the south. The main island of Taiwan, formerly known as *Formosa*, has an area of 35,808 square kilometres (13,826 sq mi), with mountain ranges dominating the eastern two-thirds and plains in the western third, where its highly urbanised population is concentrated. The capital is Taipei, which, along with New Taipei and Keelung, forms the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Other major cities include Kaohsiung, Taichung, Tainan and Taoyuan. With 23.45 million inhabitants, Taiwan is among the most densely populated countries in the world. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Trinidad and Tobago

## Information

**Trinidad and Tobago** , officially the **Republic of Trinidad and Tobago**, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean and is known for its fossil-fuel wealth. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated 130 kilometres (81 miles) south of Grenada and 11 kilometres (6.8 miles) off the coast of northeastern Venezuela. It shares maritime boundaries with Barbados to the northeast, Grenada to the northwest and Venezuela to the south and west. Trinidad and Tobago is generally considered to be part of the West Indies.

According to some geographic definitions, Trinidad and Tobago are also part of the Windward Islands and Lesser Antilles, while other definitions regard Trinidad and Tobago as a separate island group. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Russian Bear

**Russian Bear** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit Russia.

## Information

The **Russian Bear** is a widespread symbol (generally of a Eurasian brown bear) for Russia, used in cartoons, articles and dramatic plays since as early as the 16th century, and relating alike to the Russian Empire, the short-lived Russian Provisional Government and Russian Republic, the Soviet Union, and the present-day Russian Federation.
The bear image was, however, on various occasions (especially in the 20th century) also taken up by Russians themselves. Having the bear cub "Misha" as the mascot of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games was evidently intended to counter the "big and brutal Russian Bear" image with a small, cuddly and smiling bear cub.
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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp could be purchased on the shop when you log into your account while inside the country.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Tu B'Shevat

**Tu B'Shevat** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit Israel.

## Information

**Tu BiShvat** (Hebrew: ט״ו בִּשְׁבָט, romanized: *Ṭū bīŠvāṭ*, lit. '15th of Shevat') is a Jewish holiday occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat (in 2023, Tu BiShvat begins at sunset on February 5 and ends in the evening of February 6). It is also called *Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot* (Hebrew: ראש השנה לאילנות In contemporary Israel, the day is celebrated as an ecological awareness day, and trees are planted in celebration.

Tu BiShvat is the Israeli Arbor Day, and it is often referred to by that name in international media. Ecological organizations in Israel and the diaspora have adopted the holiday to further environmental-awareness programs. On Israeli kibbutzim, Tu BiShvat is celebrated as an agricultural holiday.

On Tu BiShvat 1890, Rabbi Ze'ev Yavetz, one of the founders of the Mizrachi religious Zionist movement, took his students to plant trees in the agricultural town of Zikhron Ya'akov. This custom was adopted in 1908 by the Jewish Teachers Union and later by the Jewish National Fund, established in 1901 to oversee land reclamation and afforestation Land of Israel. In the early 20th century, the Jewish National Fund devoted the day to planting eucalyptus trees to stop the plague of malaria in the Hula Valley; today the Fund schedules major tree-planting events in large forests every Tu BiShvat. Over a million Israelis take part in the Jewish National Fund's Tu BiShvat tree-planting activities.

In keeping with the idea of Tu BiShvat marking the revival of nature, many of Israel's major institutions have chosen this day for their inauguration. The cornerstone-laying of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem took place on Tu BiShvat 1918; the Technion in Haifa, on Tu BiShvat 1925; and the Knesset, on Tu BiShvat 1949.

In the diaspora, starting especially in North America in the 1980s, Tu BiShvat became treated as the Jewish "Earth Day" – with contemporary communities emphasizing all kinds of actions and activism related to the environment and the natural world.

Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp could be purchased on the shop when you log into your account while inside the country.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Sham El-Nessim

**Sham El-Nessim** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Egypt during this special day .

## Information

**Sham El-Nessim** (Arabic: شم النسيم, *Sham Al Nassim* or *Sham an-Nassim*; Egyptian Arabic: *Sham Ennesim*, Coptic: ϣⲱⲙ ⲛ̀ⲛⲓⲥⲓⲙ, *Shom Ennisim*) is an Egyptian national festival marking the beginning of spring, as it originates from the ancient Egyptian Shemu festival. Sham Ennessim always falls on Easter Monday, which is the day after Easter, in accordance with the Coptic Orthodox Church.

The festival has been nationally celebrated by all the Egyptians since ancient times, as it is considered a national festival in Egypt. Its history goes back to ancient Egyptian times, as it was related to the agricultural background of the ancient Egyptians, originating from Shemu. Sham Ennessim is an official holiday in modern Egypt.

The main features of the festival are:

* People spend all day out picnicking in any space of green, public gardens, on the Nile, or at the zoo.
* Traditional food eaten on this day consists mainly of *fesikh* (a fermented, salted and dried grey mullet), lettuce, scallions or green onions, and lupin beans.
* Coloring boiled eggs, then eating and gifting them.

On that day ... the modern Egyptians say that lettuce represents hopefulness at the beginning of the spring. Eggs are used to represent the renewal of life in the season of the spring. People dye the eggs in various colors in a tradition that goes back to the ancient Egyptians who were probably the first to introduce this practice. Salted fish represents fertility and welfare.

As of today, Egyptians still celebrate Sham Ennessim on Easter Monday. As illustrated above, even though the festival falls on Easter Monday, which is the case for historical reasons, the festival is not related to Abrahamic religions. It does not have more meaning for the Christian Egyptians than it does for the Muslim Egyptians, or for any other Egyptian outside those two faiths.

Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
South Africa

## Information

**South Africa**, officially the **Republic of South Africa** (**RSA**), is the southernmost country in Africa. With over 60 million people, it is the world's 23rd-most populous nation and covers an area of 1,221,037 square kilometres (471,445 square miles). South Africa has three capital cities: executive Pretoria, judicial Bloemfontein and legislative Cape Town. The largest city is Johannesburg.

About 80% of South Africans are of Black African ancestry, divided among a variety of ethnic groups speaking different African languages. The remaining population consists of Africa's largest communities of European (White South Africans), Asian (Indian South Africans and Chinese South Africans), and Multiracial (Coloured South Africans) ancestry.*Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Sanfermines

**Sanfermines** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Spain during this special day .

## Information

The festival of **San Fermín** is a weeklong, historically rooted celebration held annually in the city of Pamplona, Navarre, in northern Spain. The celebrations start at noon on July 6 and continue until midnight on July 14. A firework starts off the celebrations and the popular song *Pobre de mí* is sung at the end.

The most famous event is the running of the bulls, which begins at 8 in the morning from July 7 to 14, but the festival involves many other traditional and folkloric events. It is known locally as *Sanfermines* and is held in honour of Saint Fermin, the co-patron of Navarre.

Its events were central to the plot of *The Sun Also Rises* by Ernest Hemingway, which brought it to the general attention of the English-speaking world. It has become probably the most internationally renowned festival in Spain with over a million people coming to participate.
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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Bougainvillea

**Bougainvillea** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Grenada**.

## Information

"***The Bougainvillea*** is a genus of thorny ornamental vines, bushes, or trees. It is native to Eastern South America, from Brazil, west to Peru, and south to southern Argentina. Different authors accept from four to 18 species in the genus. The inflorescence consists of large colourful sepal-like bracts which surround three simple waxy flowers.

Various species of Bougainvillea are the official flowers of Guam (where it is known as the Puti Tai Nobiu); Lienchiang and Pingtung Counties in Taiwan; Ipoh, Malaysia;[11] the cities of Tagbilaran, Philippines; Camarillo, California; Laguna Niguel, California; San Clemente, California; the cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Huizhou, Zhuhai, and Jiangmen in Guangdong Province, China; Xiamen, Fujian and Naha, Okinawa. Is also the national flower in Grenada. "

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Underground River

**Underground River** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit the **Philippines**.

## Information

"***The Underground River***, or the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a protected area of the Philippines.

The park is located in the Saint Paul Mountain Range on the western coast of the island of Palawan, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of the city centre of Puerto Princesa, and contains the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River. It has been managed by the City Government of Puerto Princesa since 1992.

It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, and voted as a New7Wonders of Nature in 2012."

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
United Arab Emirates

## Information

The **United Arab Emirates**, is a country in Western Asia located at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Oman and Saudi Arabia, and has maritime borders in the Persian Gulf with Qatar and Iran.

The UAE is an elective monarchy formed from a federation of seven emirates, consisting of Abu Dhabi (where the federal capital, Abu Dhabi, is located), Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain. Each emirate is governed by a Sheikh and, together, they form the Federal Supreme Council; one of them serves as President of the United Arab Emirates. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Tết Trung Thu

**Onam** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Vietnam during this special day .

## Information

**Tết Trung Thu** (Chữ Hán: 節中秋) is a traditional Vietnamese festival held from the night of the 14th of the 8th lunar month to the end of the 15th of the 8th lunar month (*Rằm tháng Tám*). This festival has become a children's festival (*Tết Thiếu Nhi*), also known as *Tết Trông Trăng*, *Tết Đoàn Viên* or *Tết Hoa Đăng*.

Children look forward to this day because they are often given toys by adults, usually a star lamp, a mask, a kéo quân lamp, a tò he, and eat bánh trung thu (bánh nướng and bánh dẻo). On this day, people organize a feast to watch the moon. When the moon is high, children sing and dance while watching the full moon. In some places, people also organize lion dances or dragon dances for the children to enjoy.

Until now, it has not been clearly established whether the Tết Trung Thu originated from the wet rice civilization of Vietnam or received from the Chinese culture. There are three main legends that are best known to talk about the Tết Trung Thu: Chang'e and Hou Yi, Emperor Tang Ming Huang in China ascending to the moon and the story of uncle Cuội of Vietnam.

According to archaeologists, the image of the Tết Trung Thu was printed on the Ngọc Lũ bronze drum. The ancient Chinese believed that the Mid-Autumn Festival originated in the Spring and Autumn period. Perhaps the Mid-Autumn Festival, which began with the wet rice civilization of the South China Plain and the Red River Delta of Vietnam, is a festival for farmers to celebrate the harvest.

Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Singapore

## Information

**Singapore**, officially the **Republic of Singapore**, is a sovereign island city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude (137 kilometres or 85 miles) north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bordering the Straits of Malacca to the west, the Riau Islands (Indonesia) to the south, and the South China Sea to the east. The country's territory is composed of one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet, the combined area of which has increased by 25% since the country's independence as a result of extensive land reclamation projects.

It has the second greatest population density in the world. With a multicultural population and recognising the need to respect cultural identities, Singapore has four official languages; English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. English is the lingua franca. Multiracialism is enshrined in the constitution and continues to shape national policies in education, housing, and politics. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
South African Desserts

**South African Desserts** is a serie of stamps in SLOWLY. This can be purchased on the Stamp Store while you visit South Africa.

## Information

**South African cuisine** reflects the diverse range of culinary traditions embodied by the various communities that inhabit the country. Among the indigenous peoples of South Africa, the Khoisan foraged over 300 species of edible food plants, such as the rooibos shrub legume, whose culinary value continues to exert a salient influence on South African cuisine. Subsequent encounters with Bantu pastoralists facilitated the emergence of cultivated crops and domestic cattle, which supplemented traditional Khoisan techniques of meat preservation. In addition, Bantu-speaking communities forged an extensive repertoire of culinary ingredients and dishes, many of which are still consumed today in traditional settlements and urban entrepôts alike.*Text and from Wikipedia.*

National South African Desserts Serie

Text and from Wikipedia

## Method

This stamps serie could be purchased on the Stamp Store when you log into your SLOWLY account while inside the country.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Zimbabwe

## Information

**Zimbabwe** , officially the **Republic of Zimbabwe**, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozambique to the east. The capital and largest city is Harare. The second largest city is Bulawayo. A country of roughly 15 million people, Zimbabwe has 16 official languages, with English, Shona, and Ndebele the most common. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Brandenburg Gate

**Brandenburg Gate** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Germany**.

## Information

"***The Brandenburg Gate*** (German: Brandenburger Tor) is an 18th-century neoclassical monument in Berlin, built on the orders of Prussian king Frederick William II after the temporary restoration of order during the Batavian Revolution.[1] One of the best-known landmarks of Germany, it was built on the site of a former city gate that marked the start of the road from Berlin to the town of Brandenburg an der Havel, which used to be capital of the Margraviate of Brandenburg.

It is located in the western part of the city centre of Berlin within Mitte, at the junction of Unter den Linden and Ebertstraße, immediately west of the Pariser Platz. One block to the north stands the Reichstag building, which houses the German parliament (Bundestag). The gate is the monumental entry to Unter den Linden, a boulevard of linden trees which led directly to the royal City Palace of the Prussian monarchs. "

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Uruguay

## Information

**Uruguay** , officially the **Oriental Republic of Uruguay**, is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering the Río de la Plata to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast. Uruguay covers an area of approximately 176,000 square kilometers (68,000 sq mi) and has a population of an estimated 3.51 million, of whom 2 million live in the metropolitan area of its capital and largest city, Montevideo. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Ring-tailed Lemur, National Animal

**Ring-tailed Lemur, National Animal** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Madagascar**.

## Information

"***The Ring-tailed Lemur*** (Lemur catta) is a large strepsirrhine primate and the most recognized lemur due to its long, black and white ringed tail. It belongs to Lemuridae, one of five lemur families, and is the only member of the Lemur genus. Like all lemurs it is endemic to the island of Madagascar.

Known locally in Malagasy as maky or hira, it inhabits gallery forests to spiny scrub in the southern regions of the island. It is omnivorous and the most terrestrial of extant lemurs. The animal is diurnal, being active exclusively in daylight hours.

The ring-tailed lemur is highly social, living in groups of up to 30 individuals. It is also female dominant, a trait common among lemurs. To keep warm and reaffirm social bonds, groups will huddle together. The ring-tailed lemur will also sunbathe, sitting upright facing its underside, with its thinner white fur towards the sun."

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Thailand

## Information

**Thailand**, historically known as **Siam**, officially the **Kingdom of Thailand**, is a country in Southeast Asia. It is located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning 513,120 square kilometres (198,120 sq mi), with a population of almost 70 million people. Thailand is bordered to the north by Myanmar and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Myanmar.

It also shares maritime borders with Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast, and Indonesia and India (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) on the Andaman Sea to the southwest. Bangkok is the nation's capital and largest city. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Sombrero Vueltiao

**Sombrero Vueltiao** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit Colombia .

## Information

The ***sombrero voltiao*** (Colombian Spanish for *turned hat*) is a traditional hat from Colombia and one of its symbols. It is made out of *Gynerium sagittatum* known locally as *caña flecha*, a type of cane that grows in the region. The word *voltiao* is a Colombian regionalism from the northern Caribbean Region and the area surrounding the Magdalena River basin that originate in the word for "turn" or "lap" (Spanish *vuelta*), and arose due to the way the hat is made. The quality of the hat is determined by the number of pairs of fibers braided together to make the hat, and its bending flexibility. The more flexible the hat is, the higher quality it is.
The sombrero vueltiao is no longer just for Colombian peasants, as its popularity has sharply risen. The sombrero has also become a work of art admired and appreciated by the Colombians and foreigners alike.

Most of these handmade hats are produced by entire Zenú families located in the Departments of Cordoba and Sucre.

Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp could be purchased on the shop when you log into your account while inside the country.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Rua Augusta Arch

**Rua Augusta Arch** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Portugal**.

## Information

"***The Rua Augusta Arch*** (Portuguese: Arco da Rua Augusta) is a stone, triumphal arch-like, historical building and visitor attraction in Lisbon, Portugal, on the Praça do Comércio.

It was built to commemorate the city's reconstruction after the 1755 earthquake. It has six columns (some 11 m high) and is adorned with statues of various historical figures. Significant height from the arch crown to the cornice imparts an appearance of heaviness to the structure. The associated space is filled with the coat of arms of Portugal. The allegorical group at the top, made by French sculptor Célestin Anatole Calmels, represents Glory rewarding Valor and Genius.

Originally designed as a bell tower, the building was ultimately transformed into an elaborate arch after more than a century. "

.

Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Uzgavenes

**Uzgavenes** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Lithuania during this special day.

## Information

**Užgavėnės** is a Lithuanian festival that takes place during the seventh week before Easter (Ash Wednesday). Its name means "the time before Lent". The celebration corresponds to Roman Catholic holiday traditions in other parts of the world, such as Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, and Carnaval.

Užgavėnės begins on the night before Ash Wednesday, when an effigy of winter (usually named Morė) is burnt. A major element of the holiday, meant to symbolize the defeat of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, is a staged battle between Lašininis ("porky") personifying winter and Kanapinis ("hempen man") personifying spring. Devils, witches, goats, the grim reaper, and other joyful and frightening characters appear in costumes during the celebrations. The participants and masqueraders dance and eat the traditional dish of the holiday - pancakes with a variety of toppings.

Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Yi Peng

**ยี่เป็ง** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit Thailand.

## Information

**Yipeng Lantern Festival**, also called **Yee Peng** is originated from the Lanna culture in Northern Thailand.  Yi Peng means “the second full moon” of Lanna’s calendar month, is a religious event where various types of lanterns is put up in front of the house to show devotion to the Buddha, including the sky lanterns to worship the deities in the high heaven.

The highlight of the Yipeng festival is the sky lanterns. It is believed that lanterns will carry away all the unfortunate things making ways for good luck and a bright future. During the Yipeng Festival, candles are lit throughout the inner city of Chiang Mai creating a warm and charming atmosphere.

Text and image from yipenglanternfestival.

## Method

This stamp could be purchased on the shop when you log into your account while inside the country.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Slovakia

## Information

**Slovakia**, officially the **Slovak Republic**, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the southwest, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. Slovakia's mostly mountainous territory spans about 49,000 square kilometres (19,000 sq mi), with a population of over 5.4 million. The capital and largest city is Bratislava, while the second largest city is Košice. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Sanziene

**Sanziene** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Romania during this special day.

## Information

*Sânziană* is the Romanian name for gentle fairies who play an important part in local folklore, also used to designate the *Galium verum* or *Cruciata laevipes* flowers. Under the plural form ***Sânziene***, the word designates an annual festival in the fairies' honor. Etymologically, the name comes from the Latin *Sancta Diana*, the Roman goddess of the hunt and moon, also celebrated in Roman Dacia (ancient Romania). Diana was known to be the virgin goddess and looked after virgins and women. She was one of the three maiden goddesses, Diana, Minerva and Vesta, who swore never to marry.

People in the western Carpathian Mountains celebrate the **Sânziene** holiday annually, on June 24. This is similar to the Swedish Midsummer holiday, and is believed to be a pagan celebration of the summer solstice in June. According to the official position of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the customs actually relate to the celebration of Saint John the Baptist's Nativity, which also happens on June 24.

Text and image from wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Rudolf Maister Day

**Rudolf Maister Day** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit Slovenia.

## Information

**Rudolf Maister** (pen name: **Vojanov**; 29 March 1874 – 26 July 1934) was a Slovene military officer, poet and political activist. The soldiers who fought under Maister's command in northern Slovenia became known as "Maister's fighters" (Slovene: *Maistrovi borci*). Maister was also an accomplished poet and self-taught painter.

Maister was born in the Upper Carniolan commercial town of Kamnik, then part of Austria-Hungary. A career soldier, during World War I, he served in the Austro-Hungarian Army. In 1917, he was sent to Graz promoted to the rank of a major. In 1918, near the end of the war when it was obvious that Austria-Hungary was losing, the city council of Maribor proclaimed the annexation of Maribor to Austria. Maister organized Slovene volunteer forces of 4000 soldiers and 200 officers and in the night of 23 November 1918 seized control of the city of Maribor and the surrounding region of Lower Styria. This date has been recognized as a state holiday in Slovenia since 2005. The Slovene National Council for Lower Styria awarded him the rank of general on November 1. The German-speaking city was thus secured for the newly formed State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, which united with the Kingdom of Serbia into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes on December 1. Maister's rank as a general was confirmed by the National Government of the Slovene part of the Kingdom as a "lieutenant with the title and character of a general" on 11 December 1918, which was later also confirmed by the Belgrade Government.

Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp could be purchased on the shop when you log into your account while inside the country.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Tubav

**Tu B'Av** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Israel during this special day.

## Information

**Tu B'Av** (Hebrew: ט״ו באב, lit. 'fifteenth of *Av*') is a minor Jewish holiday. In modern-day Israel, it is celebrated as a holiday of love (חג האהבה *Ḥag HaAhava*). It has been said to be an auspicious day for weddings.

Tu B'Av is a day of joy that follows Tisha B'Av by six days and contrasts with the sadness of Tisha B'Av. Tu B'Av does not have many established religious rituals associated with its celebration except that Tachanun is not said—either at mincha the day before or on the day itself—and a bride and groom traditionally do not fast if their wedding falls on Tu B'Av. These customs commemorate the happy events that occurred in the history of the Jewish People.

In modern times, it has become a romantic Jewish holiday among secular Jews who mostly see it as the Jewish equivalent of Valentine's day and comparable to Sadie Hawkins Day. After experiencing a surge in popularity in the modern state of Israel, Israelis prefer to celebrate love on Tu B'Av and North American Jewish organizations throw celebrations and offer teachings on Tu B'Av. It serves as a day for matchmaking, weddings, and proposing, but also for increasing Torah study. Tu B'Av is more popular than Valentine's Day since secular Jews and Haredi celebrate Tu B'Av while Haredi are less likely to be aware of Valentine's Day.

There is an initiative calling for Tu B'Av Together, for a global day of prayer, praying for Shidduchim (opportunities to meet a potential spouse) but importantly praying for a fellow Jew to find the perfect spouse. The initiative brings together Jews every year in prayer, saying Tehillim (Psalms) for each other to find a spouse. 8 Chapters of Tehillim (Psalms) are recited in unison around the world simultaneously and across different time zones.

Text and image from wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Tango

**Tango** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit Argentina .

## Information

**Tango** is a partner dance and social dance that originated in the 1880s along the Río de la Plata, the natural border between Argentina and Uruguay. It was born in the impoverished port areas of these countries, in neighborhoods which had predominantly African descendants. The tango is the result of a combination of Rioplatense Candombe celebrations, Spanish-Cuban Habanera, and Argentinean Milonga. The tango was frequently practiced in the brothels and bars of ports, where business owners employed bands to entertain their patrons with music. The tango then spread to the rest of the world. Many variations of this dance currently exist around the world.
On August 31, 2009, UNESCO approved a joint proposal by Argentina and Uruguay to include the tango in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.

**Argentine tango** is a musical genre and accompanying social dance originating at the end of the 19th century in the suburbs of Buenos Aires and Montevideo. It typically has a "/4 or 4/4 rhythmic time signature, and two or three parts repeating in patterns such as ABAB or ABCAC. Its lyrics are marked by *nostalgia*, sadness, and laments for lost love. The typical orchestra has several melodic instruments and is given a distinctive air by the bandoneon. It has continued to grow in popularity and spread internationally, adding modern elements without replacing the older ones. Among its leading figures are the singer and songwriter Carlos Gardel and composers/performers Francisco Canaro, Juan D'Arienzo, Carlos Di Sarli, Osvaldo Pugliese, and Ástor Piazzolla.

Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp could be purchased on the shop when you log into your account while inside the country.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Skiing

**Skiing** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Austria and some other Northern countries during their special days. (at this point we have only seen it in Austria, but the stamp has no two letter Country Code, an indication it's expected to appear in multiple nations.)

## Information

***Skiing*** is the use of skis to glide on snow. Variations of purpose include basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Skiing has a history of almost five millennia. Although modern skiing has evolved from beginnings in Scandinavia, it may have been practiced more than 100 centuries ago in what is now China, according to an interpretation of ancient paintings. However, this continues to be debated.

The word "ski" is one of a handful of words that Norway has exported to the international community. It comes from the Old Norse word "skíð" which means "split piece of wood or firewood".

Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.