recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Tung Blossom Festival

**Tung Blossom Festival** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Taiwan during this special day.

## Information

The inspiration of the **Tung Blossom Festival** comes from the Hakka people, who live a hardworking and simple life nurtured by wisdom that has come down from their original integration into the Taiwanese local culture.

The Tung Trees that cover the hills and fields were an important cash crop for the Hakka. They also brought many economic opportunities to the local economy. Tung trees were widely planted in the nearby mountains of the Hakka area. Tung seed can be used to extract tung tree oil, and its wood is a basic material in the production of consumer goods at that time, when the economy was much more local, the Tung tree wood's economic value was an important resource in helping many Hakka families make ends meet, and helped Hakka communities purchase food. That is the main reason that the Hakka have deep feelings and heartfelt gratitude towards the Tung tree, the mountains, and nature in general.

During The Tung Blossom Festival, in addition to inviting people to enjoy the flowers and tour around the Hakka village, the Council for Hakka Affairs has the honor of conducting a grand ceremony to worship the three Mountain Gods, the guardian spirits of the Hakka. The ceremony will not only offer thanksgiving and respect to the mountains and forests, but also bring encouragement to the Hakka decedents, extolling them to respect the law, to be solemn and the holy, to be devout in prayers, and to cherish the roots of their culture. Today, although people's livelihood no longer rely on the economic value of tung tree, the modern Tung Tree Festival has been a great economy success. The Tung Blossom Festival hosted by Hakka Affairs Council is not only a sacrifice to the guardian spirits on the behalf of the people, but also an offering to the people on the behalf of the flowers.

The Tung tree has very different stages in its appearance throughout the four Seasons. Around April or May the flowers will blossom, and are a beautiful snow white; in summer, green leaves sprout from the branches; in autumn all the leaves turn yellow and blow away with the wind; and during the winter tung tree looks withered and dead. The Hakka people's history has often mimicked these seasons. Several times the Hakka have been forced to migrate, and have faced extreme difficulty. However, they have always stuck to their traditional roots, and been innovative in their methods.

Text and image from eng.taiwan.net.tw.

## 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 Korea

## Information

**South Korea**, officially the **Republic of Korea** (**ROK**), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eastern border is defined by the Sea of Japan. About 25 million people, around half of the country's population of 51 million, live in the Seoul Capital Area.

The Korean Peninsula was inhabited as early as the Lower Paleolithic period. Its first kingdom was noted in Chinese records in the early 7th century BCE. Following the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea into Silla and Balhae in the late 7th century, Korea was ruled by the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392) and the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897). The succeeding Korean Empire was annexed in 1910 into the Empire of Japan. Japanese rule in Korea ended following the former's surrender in World War II, after which Korea was divided into two zones; a northern zone occupied by the Soviet Union and a southern zone occupied by the United States. After negotiations on reunification failed, the latter became the Republic of Korea in August 1948 while the former became North Korea. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Red Heliconia, National flower

**Red Heliconia, National flower** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Montserrat**.

## Information

"***The Red Heliconia***, Heliconia bihai of the family Heliconiaceae is an erect herb typically growing taller than 1.5 m. It is native to northern South America and the West Indies.

It is especially common in northern Brazil and the Guianas but also found in Hispaniola, Jamaica, the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Venezuela and Colombia. Other names by which the plant is commonly known include balisier and macawflower.

This plant is used as an ornamental plant in hot regions with a humid climate (USDA zone 9-11), and is typically pollinated by bats and hummingbirds.

This upward facing flower of the genus Heliconia, which acts as a cup, is a natural source of rain water for birds and insects."
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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.
Rally

**Rally** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit some countries such as France, Senegal, Saudi Arabia during this special event. The list of countries in which it will be relesead could change each year according to Slowly's team that evaluates users feedback and new information.

## Information

**Dakkar Rally**, (or simply "**The Dakar**"; formerly known as the "**Paris–Dakar Rally**") is an annual rally raid organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation. Most events since the inception in 1978 were staged from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal, but due to security threats in Mauritania, which led to the cancellation of the 2008 rally, events from 2009 to 2019 were held in South America.

Since 2020, the race has been entirely in Saudi Arabia. The rally is open to amateur and professional entries, amateurs typically making up about eighty percent of the participants.

The rally is an off-road endurance event. The terrain that the competitors traverse is much tougher than that used in conventional rallying, and the vehicles used are typically true off-road vehicles and motorcycles, rather than modified on-road vehicles. Most of the competitive special sections are off-road, crossing dunes, mud, camel grass, rocks, and erg among others. The distances of each stage covered vary from short distances up to 800–900 kilometres (500–560 mi) per day.

Text and image from Wikipedia.

More info on the 2022 Dakkar Rally in Saudi Arabia here.

## 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.
Sobremesas Brasileiras

**Sobremesas Brasileiras** (or ***Brazilian desserts***) is a serie of stamps in SLOWLY. This can be purchased on the Stamp Store while you visit Brazil.

## Information

**Romanian cuisine** is a diverse blend of different dishes from several traditions with which it has come into contact, but it also maintains its own character.

It has been mainly influenced by Turkish and a series of European cuisines in particular from the Balkans, or Hungarian cuisine as well as culinary elements stemming from the cuisines of Central Europe.

*Text from Wikipedia.*

Romanian Desserts Serie

Text from Wikipedia and other various sources, links provided.

## Method

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

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

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

## Information

**Constitution Day** is the national day of Norway and is an official public holiday observed on 17 May each year. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to as ***syttende mai*** ("Seventeenth May"), *Nasjonaldagen* ("National Day"), or *Grunnlovsdagen* ("Constitution Day"), although the latter is less frequent.
All over Norway, memorials to the fallen at wars and to other notable national people are honoured with speeches and wreaths early in the morning. In many places (like in Oslo) at noon, a salute is fired.

In addition to children's parades, there are parades for the public (*borgertog*), where every citizen is welcome to join in. These are led by marching bands and often local boy scouts and girl guides, local choirs, NGOs etc. This takes place in the early morning or in the afternoon, before or after the school's parade.

All parades begin or end with speeches. Both grown-ups and older children are invited to speak. After the parades, there are games for the children, and often much ice cream, pop, sweets and hot-dogs are consumed.

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.
Raksha Mask

**Raksha Mask** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit Sri Lanka.

## Information

The traditional masks are carved from light Balsa like Kaduru wood (Nux vomica). Kaduru trees grow in the marshy lands bordering paddy fields. The wood is smoke dried for a week in preparation. The hand carved and hand painted masks in traditional dance dramas are both vibrant and colorful.

Masks are created for three different types of dancing rituals: 'Kolam', which tell mocking stories of traditional Sri Lankan colonial life; 'Sanni', or devil dancing masks, used in a type of exorcism ceremony to heal people of persisting illnesses believed to be inflicted by demons; and **'Raksha'** masks, which are used in festivals and processions. Local puppet shows, showing dramas, comedies and folk tales were also a popular form of entertainment. Influences from South India, Asia and Europe are assumed to have been the shaping factor in the art of mask dancing and puppetry. The Naga Raksha (Cobra demon) mask of theRaksha Kolama*' (demon dance), consists of a ferocious face with bulging, popping & staring eyes, a carnivorous tongue lolling out of a wide mouth armed to the hilt with set of fanged teeth, all topped by a set of cobra hoods.*

With the practices of traditional exorcism (*thovil*), mask dancing (*kolam*) and puppetry (*rookada*) shows in the decline, the art of mask carving has seen a reduction of interest. Though only a few of the antique originals survive, the local mask museum retains an interesting collection of reproductions and provides displays of carving techniques for visitors.

Text from Wikipedia. Image from us.lakpura.com

## 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.
Romanian Culture Day

**National Culture Day** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit Romania.

## Information

Romania is celebrating its **National Culture Day** on January 15, a date set to honour national poet Mihai Eminescu, who was born on January 15, 1850.

The National Culture Day has been marked in Romania since 2011 after in November 2010 the Chamber of Deputies adopted a draft law by which Mihai Eminescu’s birthday became the National Culture Day.

Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889) is considered the most famous and influential Romanian poet, as well as the last major representative of European Romanticism, and a promoter of enlightened nationalism. *“Being very Romanian, Eminescu is universal”*, said Tudor Arghezi, another famous poet and writer, about Eminescu.

Greatly influenced by the literature of Western European authors and the philosophical doctrines of German academics such as Arthur Schopenhauer, Mihai Eminescu (born Mihai Eminovici in a family with 11 children in the village of Ipotesti, Botosani county, northeastern Romania) is considered the national poet of both Romania and its neighbor Republic of Moldova. His romantic inspirations led to poetry which reinterpreted traditional narratives of the mythological, fabled and metaphysical. Often credited with igniting a complete revolution of Romanian verse, Eminescu’s poetry debut came in 1866 when he was just 16 years old.

His poems span a large range of themes, from nature and love to hate and social commentary. His childhood years were evoked in his later poetry with deep nostalgia. After completing his education abroad, Eminescu worked as a university librarian, newspaper editor and journalist although he continued to write and publish poetry.

Eminescu’s poems have been translated in over 60 languages. His life, work and poetry strongly influenced the Romanian culture, wit his poems being widely studied in Romanian public schools.

Eminescu’s masterpiece *‘Luceafărul’ (‘Evening Star’ or ‘The Vesper’),* a narrative poem, was published in 1883. It is an epic love poem engaging the beauty of the natural world and interrogating the psyche of man.  It is considered his masterpiece, and of the Romanian literature in general, as well as one of the last milestones in Europe’s Romantic poetry. Mihai Eminescu spent ten years to write it.

*‘Luceafarul*‘ begins as a typical “one upon a time” fairy tale, with the heroine Cătălina, daughter of a royal couple, shown waiting impatiently for nightfall, when she gazes upon the Vesper, but the story will actually evolve as a self-reflection on the poet’s condition as a genius, and an illustration of his philosophy of love.

Text from romaniajournal 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.
Tsukimi

**Tsukimi** (月見 or Moon viewing) is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Japan during this special day.

## Information

**Tsukimi** (月見) or **Otsukimi** (お月見), meaning, "*moon-viewing"*, also known as **Jugoya** (十五夜), are Japanese festivals honoring the autumn moon, a variant of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The celebration of the full moon typically takes place on the 15th day of the eighth month of the traditional Japanese calendar; the waxing moon is celebrated on the 13th day of the ninth month. These days normally fall in September and October of the modern solar calendar.

The tradition dates to the Heian era, and is now so popular in Japan that some people repeat the activities for several evenings following the appearance of the full moon during the eighth lunisolar month.

Tsukimi traditions include displaying decorations made from Japanese pampas grass (*susuki*) and eating rice dumplings called *Tsukimi dango* in order to celebrate the beauty of the Moon. Seasonal produce are also displayed as offerings to the Moon. Sweet potatoes are offered to the full moon, while beans or chestnuts are offered to the waxing moon the following month.
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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.
Yule Lads

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

## Information

**Yule Lads** (sometimes named Yuletide-lads or Yulemen) are the sons of Grýla and Leppalúði. They are a group of 13 mischievous pranksters who steal from or otherwise harass the population. All have descriptive names that generally convey their favourite way of causing mischief. They arrive one by one over the final 13 nights leading up to Christmas (Yule). They leave small gifts in shoes that children place on window sills, but if the child has been disobedient, they leave a rotten potato in the shoe instead.

In modern times the Yule Lads have also been depicted in a more benevolent role comparable to Santa Claus and other related figures. They are generally portrayed wearing late-medieval Icelandic clothing, but are sometimes shown in the costume traditionally worn by Santa Claus, especially at children's events.

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.
St. Mary Basilica

**St. Mary Basilica**  is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Poland**.

## Information

"***The St. Mary Basilica*** (Polish: Kościół Mariacki) is a Brick Gothic church adjacent to the Main Market Square in Kraków, Poland. Built in the 14th century, its foundations date back to the early 13th century and serve as one of the best examples of Polish Gothic architecture. Standing 80 m (262 ft) tall, it is particularly famous for its wooden altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss (Wit Stwosz). In 1978 it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside the Historic Centre of Kraków.

Saint Mary's Basilica also served as an architectural model for many of the churches that were built by the Polish diaspora abroad, particularly those like Saint Michael's and Saint John Cantius in Chicago, designed in the Polish Cathedral style. "

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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.
Venezuela

## Information

**Venezuela** , officially the **Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela** , is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It has a territorial extension of 916,445 km2 (353,841 sq mi), and the population of Venezuela was estimated at 28 million in 2019. The capital and largest urban agglomeration is the city of Caracas.

The continental territory is bordered on the north by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Colombia, Brazil on the south, Trinidad and Tobago to the north-east and on the east by Guyana. The Venezuelan government maintains a claim against Guyana to Guayana Esequiba. Venezuela is a federal presidential republic consisting of 23 states, the Capital District and federal dependencies covering Venezuela's offshore islands. Venezuela is among the most urbanized countries in Latin America; the vast majority of Venezuelans live in the cities of the north and in the capital. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

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

## Information

**Suriname** or **Surinam**, officially known as the **Republic of Suriname**, is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, and Brazil to the south. At just under 165,000 square kilometers (64,000 square miles), it is the smallest sovereign state in South America. Suriname has a population of approximately 575,990, most of whom live on the country's north coast, in and around the capital and largest city, Paramaribo. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Regata Storica

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

## Information

The Historical Regatta ("Regata Storica") is an important sporting event related to a historical re-enactment, which takes place in Venice along the Grand Canal on the first Sunday of September.It is a competition between Venetian boats watched by thousands of people from the banks or from floating stands. Competitions are preceded by a historical procession ("Corteo Storico") remembering the entrance of the Queen of Cyprus Catherine Cornaro after abdication in 1489: gondoliers in costumes sail in typical 16th century boats following the Bucentaur, doge's state galley.
The event is made up of two distinct phases: the historical procession and, to follow, the competitive regattas.
The historical procession opens the event and recalls the triumphal welcome that was reserved for the queen of Cyprus, Caterina Cornaro, upon her arrival in the city in 1489, after the abdication of her throne in favor of Venice.
The procession is made up of dozens of typical Venetian rowing boats, including the bissone which are used only on this type of occasion, with rowers and figures in period costume, including the Doge and Caterina Cornaro.
The competitive part of the event consists of the regattas that follow the historical procession and still today represents the most important and prestigious rowing event of the entire season. The winners, awarded by the most important city authorities, are considered true champions of the city and held in great esteem by all rowers.

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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.
Simit Cart

**Simit Cart** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Turkey**.

## Information

"***The Simit*** is a circular bread, typically encrusted with sesame seeds or, less commonly, poppy, flax or sunflower seeds, found across the cuisines of the former Ottoman Empire, and the Middle East. Simit's size, crunch, chewiness, and other characteristics vary slightly by region. It is widely known as Turkish bagel in United States.

Simit are sold by street vendors in Turkey, who either have a simit cart (trolley) or carry the simit in a tray on their head. Street merchants generally advertise simit as fresh ("Taze simit!"/"Taze gevrek!") since they are baked throughout the day; otherwise hot ("Sıcak, sıcak!") and extremely hot ("El yakıyor!" means "It burns the hand!") when they are not long out of the oven. "

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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.
Willkakuti

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

## Information

***Willkakuti*** is also officially known in Bolivia as Aymara New Year or Andean New Year, and also called by the pluricultural policy of the country like Andean, Amazonian and Chaco New Years, it is celebrated on June 21 of each year in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. It symbolizes the return of the sun and the new agricultural cycle.

The main celebration takes place in Tiwanaku, the former capital of the Tiwanacota state that was part of the Aymara culture. Due to the connotation of this festival among the native peoples of Bolivia, it is currently called "Andean Amazonian and Chaco New Year", which in 2018 according to the Bolivian Ministry of Culture and Tourism was celebrated in 207 sites sacred monuments of Bolivia.

The main characteristic of the tradition consists in placing the palms of the hands facing the sun, at the moment of dawn when the first rays arrive. In Bolivia, on April 12, 2005, through Law No. 3018, the nation's "Aymara New Year" was declared intangible, historical and cultural heritage, which is celebrated every June 21 in Tiawanaku and other regions of Bolivia.

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.
Scotland

## Information

**Scotland** is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a 96-mile (154-kilometre) border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, the North Sea to the northeast and east, and the Irish Sea to the south. It also contains more than 790 islands, principally in the archipelagos of the Hebrides and the Northern Isles. Most of the population, including the capital Edinburgh, is concentrated in the Central Belt—the plain between the Scottish Highlands and the Southern Uplands—in the Scottish Lowlands.

The Kingdom of Scotland emerged as an independent sovereign state in the 9th century and continued to exist until 1707. By inheritance in 1603, James VI of Scotland became king of England and Ireland, thus forming a personal union of the three kingdoms. Scotland subsequently entered into a political union with the Kingdom of England on 1 May 1707 to create the new Kingdom of Great Britain.
*Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

Please see also the **United Kingdom Country Gallery**, as Wales residents receive all the stamps available in the UK at large.

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Wat Saket

**Wat Saket** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Thailand**.

## Information

"***The Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan*** (Thai: วัดสระเกศราชวรมหาวิหาร), usually shortened to Wat Saket is a Buddhist temple (wat) in Pom Prap Sattru Phai district, Bangkok, Thailand.

The temple dates back to the Ayutthaya era, when it was known as Wat Sakae (วัดสะแก). When Bangkok became the capital, King Rama I (1737–1809) renovated the temple and gave it its present name. Its name roughly translated as "wash hair". Since it was believed that on the way the king returned from the war. He stopped by to take a bath and wash his hair here, before entering inner city. "

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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.
Tajikistan

## Information

**Tajikistan** , officially the **Republic of Tajikistan**, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. It has an area of 143,100 km2 (55,300 sq mi) and an estimated population of 9,537,645 people. Its capital and largest city is Dushanbe. It is bordered by Afghanistan to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north and China to the east. The traditional homelands of the Tajik people include present-day Tajikistan as well as parts of Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Vaduz Cathedral

**Vaduz Cathedral** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Belgium**.

## Information

"***The Vaduz Cathedral***, or Cathedral of St. Florin (German: St. Florinskirche in Vaduz or Kathedrale St. Florin), is a neo-Gothic church in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, and the centre of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vaduz. Originally a parish church, it has held the status of cathedral since 1997.

It was built in 1874 by Friedrich von Schmidt on the site of earlier medieval foundations. Its patron saint is Florinus of Remüs (Florin), a 9th-century saint of the Vinschgau Valley.

The Archdiocese of Vaduz was erected by Pope John Paul II in the apostolic constitution Ad satins consulendum 2 December 1997. Before then it had been the Liechtenstein Deanery, a part of the Swiss Diocese of Chur. The solemn public ceremony took place on December 12, 1997, in the parish church of Vaduz, which was then raised to the dignity of a cathedral. "

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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.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

## Information

**Saint Vincent and the Grenadines**is an island country in the Caribbean. It is located in the southeast Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, which lie in the West Indies at the southern end of the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea where the latter meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Its 369 km2 (142 sq mi) territory consists of the main island of Saint Vincent and, south of that, two-thirds of the northern part of the Grenadines, a chain of 32 smaller islands. Some of the Grenadines are inhabited—Bequia, Mustique, Union Island, Canouan, Petit Saint Vincent, Palm Island, Mayreau, Young Island—while others are not: Tobago Cays, Baliceaux, Battowia, Quatre, Petite Mustique, Savan and Petit Nevis. Most of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines lies within the Hurricane Alley.
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*Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Walpurgis Night

**Walpurgis Night** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Germany and other countries during this special day .

## Information

**Walpurgis Night**, an abbreviation of **Saint Walpurgis Night** (from the German *Sankt-Walpurgisnacht*), also known as **Saint Walpurga's Eve** (alternatively spelled **Saint Walburga's Eve**), is the eve of the Christian feast day of Saint Walpurga, an 8th-century abbess in Francia, and is celebrated on the night of 30 April and the day of 1 May. This feast commemorates the canonization of Saint Walpurga and the movement of her relics to Eichstätt, both of which occurred on 1 May 870.

Saint Walpurga was hailed by the Christians of Germany for battling "pest, rabies, and whooping cough, as well as against witchcraft". Christians prayed to God through the intercession of Saint Walpurga in order to protect themselves from witchcraft, as Saint Walpurga was successful in converting the local populace to Christianity. In parts of Europe, people continue to light bonfires on Saint Walpurga's Eve in order to ward off evil spirits and witches. Others have historically made Christian pilgrimages to Saint Walburga's tomb in Eichstätt on the Feast of Saint Walburga, often obtaining vials of Saint Walburga's oil.

It is suggested that Walpurgis Night is linked with older May Day festivals in northern Europe, which also involved lighting bonfires at night, for example the Gaelic festival Beltane.

Local variants of Walpurgis Night are observed throughout Northern and Central Europe in the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, and Estonia. In Finland, Denmark and Norway, the tradition with bonfires to ward off the witches is observed as Saint John's Eve, which commemorates the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.

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.
Slovenia

## Information

**Slovenia**, officially the **Republic of Slovenia**, is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, and the Adriatic Sea to the southwest. Slovenia is mostly mountainous and forested, covers 20,271 square kilometers (7,827 sq mi), and has a population of 2.1 million (2.107.007 people), of which 300,000 live in the capital and largest city Ljubljana. Slovenes form the vast majority of the country's population, while Serbs are the largest minority. Slovene, a South Slavic language, is the official language.

Slovenia has a predominantly continental climate, with the exception of the Slovene Littoral and the Julian Alps. A sub-mediterranean climate reaches to the northern extensions of the Dinaric Alps that traverse the country in a northwest–southeast direction. The Julian Alps in the northwest have an alpine climate. Continental climate is increasingly more pronounced towards the Pannonian Plain in the Northwest. The nation's capital and largest city—Ljubljana—is situated at roughly the centre of the country.*Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

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

**Russian Idioms** is a serie of stamps in SLOWLY. This can be purchased on the Stamp Store while you visit Russia.

## Information

An **idiom** is a phrase or expression that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase; but some phrases become figurative idioms while retaining the literal meaning of the phrase. Categorized as formulaic language, an idiom's figurative meaning is different from the literal meaning. Idioms occur frequently in all languages. *Text from Wikipedia.*

Russian Idiom Serie

Idioms text source : Russian Idioms

## 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.
Solitario George

**Solitario George** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit Ecuador.

This stamp was one of the first results of the new Slowly Stamps Suggestions site. C a y e n n a posted a suggestion, it received support from users and soon was in the production process.

## Information

**Lonesome George**, a giant tortoise from the island of Pinta in the northern regions of the Galapagos Archipelago, was the last known survivor of the Pinta tortoise (*Chelonoidis abingdoni*). He was considered one of the rarest creature in the world and became a conservation icon. As throughout the rest of the islands, Pinta tortoises were over-exploited by whalers, fur sealers, and others in the 1800s. The first potential landfall heading into the islands and the last possible landfall heading home again, Pinta was probably a much used source of tortoises, thus reducing the population to near zero.

The Pinta tortoise was thought to be extinct in the early part of the 20th century. Except for the absence of giant tortoises, the island was in near pristine condition until 1959, when fishermen released three goats there. Given the distance to Pinta from port, these fishermen simply wanted fresh meat on their long fishing voyages. The tiny goat population, however, exploded, and by 1970 it was estimated to be around 40,000. The goats had devastated the vegetation and had essentially eliminated any good tortoise habitat left.

Text and image from Galapagos.org. See also 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.
Çocuk Bayramı

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

## Information

**National Sovereignty and Children's Day** **(Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı)** is a public holiday in Turkey commemorating the foundation of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, on 23 April 1920. It is also observed by Northern Cyprus.

23 April is the day that the Grand National Assembly of Turkey was founded in 1920. The national council denounced the government of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed VI and announced a temporary constitution. During the War of Independence, Grand National Assembly met in Ankara and laid down the foundations of a new, independent, secular and modern republic from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. Following the defeat of the Allied invasion forces on September 9, 1922 and the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne on July 24, 1923, the Turkish Government started the task of establishing the institutions of a state.

23 April was declared "National Sovereignty Day" on May 2, 1921. Since 1927, the holiday has also been celebrated as a children's day. Thus, Turkey became the first country to officially declare children's day a national holiday. In 1981, the holiday was officially named "National Sovereignty and Children's Day."

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.
Vilnius Gediminas

**Vilnius Gediminas** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Lithuania**.

## Information

"***Gediminas' Tower*** (Lithuanian: Gedimino pilies bokštas) is the remaining part of the Upper Castle in Vilnius, Lithuania.

The first wooden fortifications were built by Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania. The first brick castle was completed in 1409 by Grand Duke Vytautas. The three-floor tower was rebuilt in 1933 by Polish architect Jan Borowski. Some remnants of the old castle have been restored, guided by archaeological research.

It is possible to climb to the top of the hill on foot or by taking a lift. The tower houses a museum exhibiting archaeological findings from the hill and the surrounding areas. The museum has models of Vilnius castles from the 14th to the 17th centuries, armament, and iconographic material of the Old Vilnius. "

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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.
Winterlude

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

## Information

**Winterlude** is an annual winter festival held in Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec (collectively known as the National Capital Region).

Winterlude is run by the Department of Canadian Heritage and was started in 1979. The event is one of Ottawa's most important tourist draws, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. In 2007, it set a new attendance record of an estimated 1.6 million visits to one of the four Winterlude sites.
The focal point of Winterlude is the Rideau Canal Skateway which at 7.8 kilometres (approximately 5 miles) is the largest skating rink in the world. Another primary site is Snowflake Kingdom, which is located in Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau. This site is turned into a massive "snow park" with ice slides and snow sculptures and also hosts numerous events and activities for children.

Confederation Park, better known as Crystal Garden, is the site for the ice sculpture competition, the ice lounge and musical concerts. Marion Dewar Plaza at City Hall (across from Confederation Park) is the site of the Rink of Dreams, an ice-skating rink that hosts skating shows, DJ dance parties and interactive art displays throughout the Festival. Dow's Lake also has a large skating area and hosts various activities. Related activities include special exhibits at numerous Ottawa museums, special events in the Byward Market, Sparks Street, and a variety of other events throughout the city.
Winterlude lasts for three weekends, usually the first three weekends in February. Very few events take place from Monday to Thursday in between weekends 1 and 2, and weekends 2 and 3. This means that the skating rink is much less crowded and that the ice stays in a near pristine condition for much of the day, with only a thousand or so skaters sharing it instead of the greater numbers during the weekend. The skate changing shacks and food catering kiosks scattered along the length of the skateway, at the same level as the ice, are open during the week.

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.
Vepro knedlo zelo

**Vepro knedlo zelo** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit Czechia .

## Information

**Vepřo knedlo zelo**, common (folk) name for the Czech national dish, pork roast with (bread) dumplings and (stewed) cabbage, which consists of three parts, served on a plate together:

* Roast pork, usually lean, sliced
* bread (or less often potato) dumplings, also sliced,
* stewed white (or less often red) sauerkraut.

After loading these components on a plate, pour or pour the baking juice over them.

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.
Timișoara Orthodox Cathedral

**Timișoara Orthodox Cathedral** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Romania**.

## Information

"***The Timișoara Orthodox Cathedral*** (Romanian: Catedrala Mitropolitană din Timișoara) is a Romanian Orthodox church in Timișoara, in the historical Banat region, in western Romania.

The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Timișoara and Metropolis of Banat. It is dedicated to the Three Holy Hierarchs, Saints Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom.

Built on an area of 1,542 m2 (16,600 sq ft), it has 11 towers, of which the central and the highest has a height of 90.5 meters. The Metropolitan Cathedral is listed in the National Register of Historic Monuments."

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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.
Vesak

**Vesak** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you open your Stamp Store during this special day .

## Information

**Vesak**, also known as **Buddha Jayanti**, **Buddha Purnima** and **Buddha Day**, is a holiday traditionally observed by Buddhists in South Asia and Southeast Asia as well as Tibet and Mongolia. The festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment (Nibbāna), and death (Parinirvāna) of Gautama Buddha in Theravada, Tibetan Buddhism and Navayana.

The name *Vesak* is derived from the Pali term *vesākha* or Sanskrit *vaiśākha* for the lunar month of Vaisakha, which is considered the month of Buddha's birth. In Mahayana Buddhist traditions, the holiday is known by its Sanskrit name (Vaiśākha) and derived variants of it.

In the East Asian tradition, a celebration of Buddha's Birthday typically occurs around the traditional timing of Vesak, while the Buddha's awakening and passing away are celebrated as separate holidays that occur at other times in the calendar as Bodhi Day and Nibbāna Day. In the South Asian tradition, where Vesak is celebrated on the full moon day of the Vaisakha month, the Vesak day marks the birth, enlightenment, and the ultimate passing away of the Buddha.

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account during this special day.
Victoria Amazonica

**Victoria Amazonica** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Guyana**.

## Information

"***Victoria Amazonica*** is a species of flowering plant, the largest of the water lily family Nymphaeaceae. It is the national flower of Guyana. Its native regions are Guyana and tropical South America. The *Victoria amazonica* has very large leaves, up to 3 m (10 ft) in diameter, that float on the water's surface on a submerged stalk, 7–8 m (23–26 ft) in length.

It is the largest waterlily in the world. *V. amazonica* is native to the shallow waters of the Amazon River basin, such as oxbow lakes and bayous. In their native habitat, the flowers first begin to open as the sun starts to set and can take up to 48 hours to fully open. These flowers can grow up to 40 cm (16 in) in diameter. "

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.
Syria

## Information

**Syria**, officially the **Syrian Arab Republic** , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon to the southwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest. Its capital and largest city is Damascus. A country of fertile plains, high mountains, and deserts, Syria is home to diverse ethnic and religious groups, including the majority Syrian Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, Assyrians, Armenians, Circassians, Mandaeans, and Greeks. Religious groups include Sunnis, Christians, Alawites, Druze, Isma'ilis, Mandaeans, Shiites, Salafis, and Yazidis. Arabs are the largest ethnic group, and Sunnis are the largest religious group. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Save the Koala Day

**Save the Koala Day** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Australia during this special day .

## Information

The aim of **Save the Koala Day** is to raise awareness of the plight of the koala and to educate people.
The Australian Koala Foundation raises money with sales of stickers, special Koala Day
gifts, items and donations.

The money contributes to the long term survival of Australia's wild koalas and their habitat. Koalas in the wild face problems as their habitat is cleared.
With housing getting closer, there is also the risk of dog attacks and road accidents.80% of koala habitat is on private land and the public needs to be
educated on how to help to keep the koala habitat alive and safe.

Simple measures like planting new and maintaining existing trees that koalas like to feed on and keeping dogs secure at night go a long way to help.
Despite there being large populations of koalas in some areas, other areas are very fragile due to the degradation of the habitat. Public education is
necessary and the Australian Koala Foundation has done a lot to enable this including implementing the Save the Koala Day.

Text and image from TheKoala.com.

## 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.