recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Fes

**Fes** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Morocco**.

## Information

"***Fes or Fez*** is a city in northern inland Morocco and the capital of the Fès-Meknès administrative region. It is the second largest city in Morocco after Casablanca,[4] with a population of 1.22 million (2020).

Located to the northeast of the Atlas Mountains, Fez is situated at a crossroad connecting the important cities of different regions; 206 km (128 mi) from Tangier to the northwest, 246 km (153 mi) from Casablanca, 189 km (117 mi) from Rabat to the west, and 387 km (240 mi) from Marrakesh to the southwest which leads to the Trans-Saharan trade route. It is surrounded by hills and the old city is centered around the Fez River (Oued Fes) flowing from west to east.

Fez was founded under Idrisid rule during the 8th-9th centuries CE. It initially consisted of two autonomous and competing settlements. Successive waves of mainly Arab immigrants from Ifriqiya (Tunisia) and al-Andalus (Spain/Portugal) in the early 9th century gave the nascent city its Arab character. After the downfall of the Idrisid dynasty, other empires came and went until the 11th century when the Almoravid Sultan Yusuf ibn Tashfin united the two settlements into what is today's Fes el-Bali quarter. "

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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.
Der Rattenfänger

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

## Information

**Ratcatcher's Day**, **Rat-catcher's Day** or **Rat Catcher's Day** is celebrated on 26 June or 22 July, commemorating the myth of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

The **Pied Piper of Hamelin** (German: *der Rattenfänger von Hameln*, also known as the **Pan Piper** or the **Rat-Catcher of Hamelin**) is the title character of a legend from the town of Hamelin (Hameln), Lower Saxony, Germany.

The legend dates back to the Middle Ages, the earliest references describing a piper, dressed in multicolored ("pied") clothing, who was a rat catcher hired by the town to lure rats away with his magic pipe. When the citizens refuse to pay for this service as promised, he retaliates by using his instrument's magical power on their children, leading them away as he had the rats. This version of the story spread as folklore and has appeared in the writings of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the Brothers Grimm, and Robert Browning, among others. The phrase "pied piper" has become a metaphor for a person who attracts a following through charisma or false promises.

There are many contradictory theories about the Pied Piper. Some suggest he was a symbol of hope to the people of Hamelin, which had been attacked by plague; he drove the rats from Hamelin, saving the people from the epidemic.

The earliest known record of the story originates from the town of Hamelin itself, depicted in a stained glass window created for the church of Hamelin, which dated to around 1300. Although the church was destroyed in 1660, several written accounts of the tale have survived.

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.
Hat Day

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

## Information

The **Dhaka topi** (Nepali: ढाका टोपी [ɖʱaka ʈopi]), or **Nepali topi**, is a hat which is popular in Nepal, and which forms part of Nepalese national dress, worn by men on celebrations.

*Dhaka ko Topi* literately means a "headgear made of Dhaka cloth", a fine cotton cloth once exclusively imported from Dhaka, the present-day capital of Bangladesh.

The Dhaka topi was a part of the Nepalese national dress, and a symbol of Nepalese nationality. It became popular during the reign of King Mahendra, who ruled between 1955 and 1972, and made wearing a Dhaka topi mandatory for official photographs for passports and documents. Dhaka Topis are given away as gifts during Dashain and Tihar festivals. Dhaka topi was also worn by government officials as a part of the national dress.

Although Dhaka clothing no longer dominates Nepalese fashion, it remains an integral part of the society and Nepalese identity. While many Nepalis now seldom wear a cap unless they are attending some cultural programme, many other men and women still wear costumes made from Dhaka on a regular basis, as it remains common sight on the streets of Kathmandu.
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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.
Gai Jatra

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

## Information

**Gai Jatra** (Nepali: गाईजात्रा), also known by its endonym **Sa Paru** (Nepal Bhasa: सा पारु), is a Nepalese festival celebrated mainly in the Kathmandu valley by the Newar people. The festival is celebrated in honour of their immediate relatives who have died during the previous year. Various groups of children dressed up as cows and in other comedic drags are organized throughout various cities.

It is generally celebrated in the month of Bhadra (August/September). The date is set according to the lunar Nepal Samabat calendar and falls on the first day of the dark fortnight of the month of Gunla.

In the Hindu religion, *Gai* (Cow) is sacred like a Lakshmi and viewed as a mother. The children of those whose families had died would come out to Hanuman Dhoka Palace and the Newar priest performs the prayers for those passed. The children usually wear long skirts and must have a tulle belt around their waist with the ends hanging on both their right and left sides that drag on the ground while walking. It is necessary that they drag because it touches the ground (Earth) for the loved ones who died to ascend from Earth to heaven. This is a festival of dragging clothes while walking. The children also wear head dresses that have a cow drawn on them which is important, and they wear a moustache drawn on their faces. The Jatra is supposed to be religious for the Newar community to help loved ones pass from Earth to heaven and also to cheer those who are left behind. The parade of drag is done in the morning by children and in the evening with caricature and stand up comedy by Hanuman Dhoka Dabali for grieving Queen and others.

Since the 1600s, the caricatures and jokes have evolved and also includes political satires to make it more interesting on TV shows, usually the male standup comedians wear female clothes and perform both male and female parts of the play, this is a fun event for the Newar community as well as for all other Nepalese communities.

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.
Arc de Triomphe

**Arc de Triomphe** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **France**.

## Information

"***The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile*** lit. '"Triumphal Arch of the Star"') is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly named Place de l'Étoile—the étoile or "star" of the juncture formed by its twelve radiating avenues.

The Arc de Triomphe honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I. "

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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.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart

**Basilica of the Sacred Heart** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This could be unlockeded when you visited the **United States**.

As of September, 2021, this stamp has been marked as *Discontinued* in the Slowly stamps collection, and can no longer be obtained. You could still receive it in a letter from someone who acquired it previously. See *Special Notes section* in this page for probable reason for discontinuation.

## Information

***The Basilica of the Sacred Heart*** in Notre Dame, Indiana, USA, is a Roman Catholic church on the campus of the University of Notre Dame, also serving as the mother church of the Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.) in the United States.

The neo-gothic church has 44 large stained glass windows and murals completed over a 17-year period by the Vatican painter Luigi Gregori. The basilica bell tower is 230 feet (70 m) high, making it the tallest University chapel in America. It is a contributing building in Notre Dame's historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Basilica is a major tourist attraction in Northern Indiana, and is visited annually by more than 50,000 tourists.

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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.

## Special Notes

During research for the creation of this page, the author found an interesting fact - the Slowly Stamp design ***does not match*** any Sacred Heart Basilicas or Cathedrals in the United States.

This can be confirmed via Wikipedia's Disambiguation page. The page also lists similarly named Basilicas in various countries, and the one that most closely matches the stamp design is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Brussels.

The image used here is from the Belgian Basilica. The one in Notre Dame, Indiana is likely the intended Church, due to its preeminence in the Catholic pastoral in the United States, but looks quite different.
Eagle, National Animal

**Eagle, National Animal** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Armenia**.

## Information

"***The Eagle, National Animal of Armenia*** . Armenia’s national animal does not mix with other birds. It flies at high altitudes where it can see its prey on the ground.

The state of Armenia has put the image of the eagle on its coat of arms, this can help explain why it is considered the national animal of Armenia.

The eagle was chosen as the national symbol of Armenia because of its power, courage, patience, wisdom and nobility in the animal kingdom. "

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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.
Burro de Miranda

**Burro de Miranda** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit Portugal.

## Information

The **Miranda donkey**, Portuguese: **Burro de Miranda**, is an autochthonous donkey breed from the Terra de Miranda region of northeast Portugal.
The Miranda donkey is born with coat that appears black, but will shed out to become brown. It is tall, 1.2–1.35 metres (3 ft 11 in–4 ft 5 in) at the withers, has long hairy ears, large hooves, pangare markings around its eyes, muzzle and underline, broad forehead, small eyes with projecting orbital arcades, large and strong legs, heavy neck, unobtrusive withers, short and muscular back, and a powerful chest. Miranda donkeys are distinguished from common donkeys by longer hair, and they are considered more social and docile. The development of the breed's characteristics reflects the region where they developed: isolated environmental conditions, agricultural characteristics of the soil, weather that tends to extremes and socioeconomic standards in the region. In 2001 the Miranda donkey was recognized as a distinct breed by the Portuguese Department of Agriculture, and, it was the first donkey breed in Portugal to join the group of asinine indigenous breeds protected by the European Union. It is the only officially recognized donkey breed on Portugal.
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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.
Bald Eagle

**Bald Eagle** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit United States.

## Information

The **bald eagle** (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle (*Haliaeetus albicilla*), which occupies the same niche as the bald eagle in the Palearctic. Its range includes most of Canada and Alaska, all of the contiguous United States, and northern Mexico. It is found near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and old-growth trees for nesting.

The bald eagle is an opportunistic feeder which subsists mainly on fish, which it swoops down upon and snatches from the water with its talons. It builds the largest nest of any North American bird and the largest tree nests ever recorded for any animal species, up to 4 m (13 ft) deep, 2.5 m (8.2 ft) wide, and 1 metric ton (1.1 short tons) in weight. Sexual maturity is attained at the age of four to five years.

Bald eagles are not bald; the name derives from an older meaning of the word, "white headed". The adult is mainly brown with a white head and tail. The sexes are identical in plumage, but females are about 25 percent larger than males. The yellow beak is large and hooked. The plumage of the immature is brown.

The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States of America and appears on its seal. In the late 20th century it was on the brink of extirpation in the contiguous United States. Populations have since recovered, and the species's status was upgraded from "endangered" to "threatened" in 1995, and removed from the list altogether in 2007.

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.
Otters

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

## Information

The **smooth-coated otter** (*Lutrogale perspicillata*) is an otter species occurring in most of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with a disjunct population in Iraq. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1996 and is threatened by habitat loss, pollution of wetlands and poaching for the illegal wildlife trade. As its name indicates, its fur is smooth and shorter than that of other otter species.

The smooth-coated otter has a short and sleek fur that is dark to reddish brown along the back, but light brown to almost grey on the underside. It is distinguished from other otter species by its more rounded head and a hairless nose in the shape of a distorted diamond. Its tail is flattened, in contrast to the more rounded tails of other otters. Its legs are short and strong, with large webbed feet bearing strong claws. It is a relatively large otter, from 7 to 11 kg (15 to 24 lb) in weight and 59 to 64 cm (23 to 25 in) in head-body length, with a tail 37 to 43 cm (15 to 17 in) long. Females have two pairs of teats.

The smooth-coated otter groups with the Asian small-clawed otter and the African clawless otter into a sister clade to the genus *Lutra*. The smooth-coated otter and the Asian small-clawed otter genetically diverged about 1.33 ± 0.78 million years ago. Hybridisation of smooth-coated otter males with Asian small-clawed otter females occurred in Singapore. The resulting offspring and their descendants bred back into the smooth-coated otter population, but maintained the genes of their small-clawed otter ancestors. Today, a population of at least 60 hybrid otters exists in Singapore.

The smooth-coated otter is a protected species in most range countries and listed globally as a vulnerable species. It had been listed on CITES Appendix II since 1977. Since August 2019, it is included in CITES Appendix I, thus strengthening its protection in regards to international trade.

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.
Den Jana Husa

**Den Jana Husa** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Czechia during this special day.

## Information

**Jan Hus** (c. 1370 – 6 July 1415), sometimes anglicized as **John Hus** or **John Huss**, and referred to in historical texts as *Iohannes Hus* or *Johannes Huss*, was a Czech theologian and philosopher who became a Church reformer and the inspiration of Hussitism, a key predecessor to Protestantism, and a seminal figure in the Bohemian Reformation. Hus is considered by some to be the first Church reformer, even though some designate the theorist John Wycliffe. His teachings had a strong influence, most immediately in the approval of a reformed Bohemian religious denomination and, over a century later, on Martin Luther. Hus was a master, dean and rector at the Charles University in Prague between 1409 and 1410.

Jan Hus was born in Husinec, Bohemia, to poor parents. In order to escape poverty, he trained for the priesthood. At an early age he traveled to Prague, where he supported himself by singing and serving in churches. His conduct was positive and, reportedly, his commitment to his studies was remarkable. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree and being ordained as a Catholic priest, Hus began to preach in Prague. He opposed many aspects of the Catholic Church in Bohemia, such as their views on ecclesiology, simony, the Eucharist, and other theological topics.

When Alexander V was elected as a pope, he was persuaded to side with Bohemian Church authorities against Hus and his disciples. He issued a Papal bull that excommunicated Hus; however, it was not enforced, and Hus continued to preach. Hus then spoke out against Alexander V's successor, Antipope John XXIII, for his selling of indulgences. Hus's excommunication was then enforced, and he spent the next two years living in exile. When the Council of Constance assembled, Hus was asked to be there and present his views on the dissension within the Church. When he arrived, with a promise of safe conduct, he was arrested and put in prison. He was eventually taken in front of the council and asked to recant his views. He replied, "I would not for a chapel of gold retreat from the truth!" When he refused, he was put back in prison. On 6 July 1415, he was burned at the stake for heresy against the doctrines of the Catholic Church. He could be heard singing Psalms as he was burning. Among his dying words, Hus predicted that God would raise others whose calls for reform would not be suppressed; this was later taken as a prophecy about Martin Luther (born 68 years after Hus's death).

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.
Czechia

## Information

The **Czech Republic**, also known by its short-form name **Czechia** and formerly known as **Bohemia**, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the east. The Czech Republic has a hilly landscape that covers an area of 78,871 square kilometers (30,452 sq mi) with a mostly temperate continental and oceanic climate. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Arabic Coffee

**Arabic Coffee** is a is a exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and other Arabic culture countries.

*\*\* Also available in: AE BH DZ EG IQ JO KW LB LY OM QA SA SD SY TN YE*

## Information

**Arabic coffee** is a version of the brewed coffee of *Coffea arabica* beans. Most Arab countries throughout the Middle East have developed distinct methods for brewing and preparing coffee. Cardamom is an often-added spice, but it can alternatively be served plain or with sugar.

There are several different styles to brewing the coffee depending on the preference of the drinker. Some methods keep the coffee light whereas others can make it dark. Arabic coffee is bitter, and typically no sugar is added. It is usually served in a small cup that is adorned with a decorative pattern, known as a finjān. Culturally, Arabic coffee is served during family gatherings or when receiving guests.

Arabic coffee is ingrained within Middle Eastern and Arab culture and tradition, and is the most popular form of coffee brewed in the Middle East. It originated in the Middle East, beginning in Yemen and eventually travelling to Mecca (Hejaz), Egypt, the Levant, and then, in the mid-16th century, to Turkey and from there to Europe where coffee eventually became popular as well. Arabic coffee is an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Arab states confirmed by UNESCO.

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.
Badshahi Mosque

**Badshahi Mosque** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Pakistan**.

## Information

"***The Badshahi Mosque*** (Punjabi and Urdu: بادشاہی مسجد‎, or "Imperial Mosque") is a Mughal era mosque in Lahore, capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan. The mosque is located west of Lahore Fort along the outskirts of the Walled City of Lahore, and is widely considered to be one of Lahore's most iconic landmarks.

The Badshahi Mosque was built by Emperor Aurangzeb in 1671, with construction of the mosque lasting for two years until 1673. The mosque is an important example of Mughal architecture, with an exterior that is decorated with carved red sandstone with marble inlay. It remains the largest mosque of the Mughal-era, and is the second-largest mosque in Pakistan.

After the fall of the Mughal Empire, the mosque was used as a garrison by the Sikh Empire and the British Empire, and is now one of Pakistan's most iconic sights. "

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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.
Padrões

A definição de padrões é de vital importância para o andamento de um projeto. Só com a criação de padrões, evitamos desperdício de tempo, realização de perguntas desnecessárias, além de promover um maior entendimento do objeto padronizado.

Os padrões são importantes não somente para a definição e configuração de ferramentas, como também, para a documentação de artefatos, documentação de reuniões, etc. Abaixo são listados os padrões estabelecidos para o Projeto.

## Padrões

Padrão de Codificação do Banco de Dados

Padrão de Codificação Java

Padrão de Quadros no Trello

Padrão de Utilização do Slack
Belgian Waffle

**Belgian Waffle** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit Belgium.

## Information

In Belgium, there are several kinds of waffle, including the Brussels waffle and the Liège waffle.
Outside of Belgium**, Belgian waffles** are a variety of waffle with a lighter batter, larger squares, and deeper pockets than American waffles. Belgian waffles were originally leavened with yeast, but baking powder is now often used. They are often eaten as a breakfast food; toppings vary from whipped cream, confectioners sugar, soft fruit, and chocolate spread, to syrup and butter or margarine. They may also be served with vanilla ice cream and fresh fruit (such as strawberries) as a dessert.

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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.
Basant Panchami

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

## Information

**Basant Panchami**, also called **Sarasvati Puja** in honor of the goddess Saraswati, is a festival that marks the preparation for the arrival of spring. The festival is celebrated by people in the Indian subcontinent in various ways depending on the region. Vasant Panchami also marks the start of preparation for Holika and Holi, which take place forty days later.

The Vasant Utsava (festival) on Panchami is celebrated forty days before spring, because any season's transition period is 40 days, and after that, the season comes into full bloom..
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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.
Băbească Neagră

**Băbească Neagră** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Moldova**.

## Information

"***Băbească Neagră*** is a red Moldovan and Romanian wine grape variety. It is cultivated in the south of Moldova and in Romania in the regions of Moldavia, Dobruja and Wallachia, making it the second most widely planted grape variety in Romania. It is also found in Ukraine and New York, United States, where the grape is known as Sereksiya Charni. The name Băbească neagră is derived from the Romanian words meaning "grandmother's black". Most wines produced from Băbească Neagră are light-bodied, fruity red wines."

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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.
Eggs Benedict

**Eggs Benedict** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit United States.

## Information

**Eggs Benedict** is a common American breakfast or brunch dish, consisting of two halves of an English muffin, each topped with Canadian bacon, a poached egg, and hollandaise sauce. It was popularized in New York City.
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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.
Greece

## Information

**Greece**, officially the **Hellenic Republic**, is a country located in Southeastern Europe. Its population is approximately 10.7 million as of 2018; Athens is its largest and capital city, followed by Thessaloniki.

Situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, Greece is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the northeast. The Aegean Sea lies to the east of the mainland, the Ionian Sea to the west, the Cretan Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

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

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

## Information

**Berchtold Day** is a holiday that’s observed in some cantons of Switzerland on the 2nd of January each year. Also known as Bärzelitag or Berchtoldstag, this holiday is one in which people get together in restaurants or pubs, hanging out with one another and exchanging New Year’s greetings and sometimes gifts.

Although the origin of this holiday isn’t really known to this day, some believe that this holiday commemorates Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen, who founded the capital of Switzerland in the 12th century. It’s been a holiday ever since.

According to this legend, Duke Berchtold V left on a hunt and vowed that he would name the fledgling capital city after the first animal that he had killed on that day. He just so happened to kill a bear, so he would go on to name the city Bern-which is “bear” in German.

A large part of this celebration centers around nuts, so much so that it’s been called the “nut feast.” People will give them as gifts, children will play games with them, and people will of course cook and eat with nuts. In fact, people will begin hoarding nuts during the autumn months so they have plenty for this celebration.

As we said earlier, people also would spend the day socializing with friends and family members-sometimes at home and sometimes in restaurants or pubs.

Text and image from holidayscalendar.

## 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.
Dominican Republic

## Information

The **Dominican Republic** is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares with Haiti, making Hispaniola one of only two Caribbean islands, along with Saint Martin, that is shared by two sovereign states. The Dominican Republic is the second-largest nation in the Antilles by area (after Cuba) at 48,671 square kilometers (18,792 sq mi), and third-largest by population, with approximately 10.8 million people (2020 est.), of whom approximately 3.3 million live in the metropolitan area of Santo Domingo, the capital city. The official language of the country is Spanish. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Ethiopian New Year

**Ethiopian New Year** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Ethiopia during this special day.

## Information

**Ethiopian New Year** (*Enkutatash*) is a public holiday in coincidence of New Year in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It occurs on Meskerem 1 on the Ethiopian calendar, which is 11 September (or, during a leap year, 12 September) according to the Gregorian calendar.

This holiday is based on the Ethiopian calendar. Large celebrations are held around the country, notably at the Ragual Church on Entoto mountain.

According to InCultureParent, "after attending church in the morning, families gather to share a traditional meal of *injera* (flat bread) and wat (sauce). Later in the day, young girls donning new clothes, gather daisies and present friends with a bouquet, singing New Year's songs."

According to the Ethiopian Tourism Commission, "Enkutatash is not exclusively a religious holiday. Modern Enkutatash is also the season for exchanging formal new year greetings and cards among the urban sophisticated – in lieu of the traditional bouquet of flowers."
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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.
Parranda de San Pedro

**Parranda de San Pedro** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Venezuela during this special day.

## Information

Every year in the small towns of Guarenas and Guatire, devotees of San Pedro the Apostle celebrate his saint’s day with a series of popular festivities and rituals. An image of San Pedro is stored in all the town’s churches while the saint is celebrated with popular songs. Then, at midnight, a mass is held and the images are taken out and paraded through the streets. Central to the celebration is a re-enactment of the story of the slave María Ignacia, whose daughter was healed by the saint. *Parranderos* play key roles in the drama, wearing colourful, carefully prepared costumes representing the different characters, while other participants bear flags and banners, dance, play instruments, sing and improvise popular tunes. Women participate by preparing and training younger generations through workshops and by decorating the churches, dressing images of the saint and cooking traditional dishes. During the festival, the dancers, together with their families, neighbours and other community adults and children, gather to share moments of joy and togetherness. Every gathering serves to celebrate the spirit of the community, the energy and happiness of the dancers, and the vitality of a tradition that symbolizes and reasserts the struggle against injustice and inequality.

Text and image from UNESCO.

## 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.
Mozambique

## Information

**Mozambique**, officially the **Republic of Mozambique** (Portuguese: *Moçambique* or *República de Moçambique*; Chichewa: *Mozambiki*; Swahili: *Msumbiji*; Tsonga: *Muzambhiki*), is a country located in Southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini (Swaziland) and South Africa to the southwest.

The sovereign state is separated from the Comoros, Mayotte and Madagascar by the Mozambique Channel to the east. The capital and largest city of Mozambique is Maputo (known as Lourenço Marques from 1876 to 1976). *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

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

## Information

**Canada** is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering 9.98 million square kilometres (3.85 million square miles), making it the world's second-largest country by total area. Its southern and western border with the United States, stretching 8,891 kilometres (5,525 mi), is the world's longest bi-national land border. Canada's capital is Ottawa, and its three largest metropolitan areas are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Fire Dragon Dance

**Fire Dragon Dance** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Hong Kong during this special day .

## Information

Hong Kong’s legendary **Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance** roars back to life this Mid-Autumn Festival. Scheduled to take place on three consecutive nights, the flamboyant dance will feature more than 300 performers parading a majestic 67-metre-long dragon through the grid-like streets of the charming Tai Hang district.

This year’s event will feature a number of exciting new elements, including a special performance by next-generation dragon performers, a LED giant flower plaque with a dragon head near the entrance for photo opportunities, and an extended viewing zone to accommodate more spectators along Wun Sha Street and Tung Lo Wan Road. The history and significance of the event can also be discovered during the daytime at the recently opened Tai Hang Fire Dragon Heritage Centre, which provides a fascinating insight into the 143-year-old tradition.

The dragon’s intricate construction requires over a month of dedicated hard work by a team of skilled and experienced craftspeople, who create the dragon by hand using pearl straw, rattan and hemp rope. Comprising 32 segments, the body of the dragon is adorned with 12,000 illuminated incense sticks, with the head alone weighing 50 kilograms. This smoky, fiery spectacle is found uniquely in Hong Kong, making it a one-of-a-kind display.

Originating over 140 years ago, the Fire Dragon Dance emerged as Tai Hang grappled with the hardships of plague within its farming and fishing communities. In an inspirational dream, a village elder was instructed to create a dragon adorned with smoldering incense sticks and parade it through the streets to save the village.

Since then, the ritual has been performed every year with its distinctive character and has established itself as one of Hong Kong’s most important cultural celebrations, with the dance included on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Text from traveldailymedia. image from hongkongfp

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside one of the countries 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.
National Academic Grand Opera and Ballet Theatre

**National Academic Grand Opera and Ballet Theatre** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Belarus**.

## Information

"***The National Academic Grand Opera and Ballet Theatre*** is located in a park in the Trinity Hill district of Minsk. Local people call it the "Opierny Teatr" (Belarusian) or the "Opera and Ballet Theatre". It opened on 15 May 1933 but it first did not have its own venue for presentations at the Belarusian Drama Theatre building until 1938.

The first permanent theatre was founded in Belarus in 1933 on the basis of the Belarusian opera and ballet school, the organizer of the studio being the famous Russian Opera singer Anton Bonachich (Bonatschitsch) (ru: Антон Петрович Боначич). He was the first head of the new theatre. But he stayed in this position for a very short time, dying in 1933.

The current theatre building was opened in 1939. It was designed by the Belarus architect from Leningrad, Iosif Langbard, whose original design was only partially implemented and some design details were omitted yielding to financial and other problems; the theatre has reliefs done by Zair Azgur."

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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.
Carnaval de Barranquilla

**Carnaval de Barranquilla** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Colombia during this special day .

## Information

The **Barranquilla's Carnival** (*Spanish: Carnaval de Barranquilla*) is one of Colombia's most important folkloric celebrations, and one of the biggest carnivals in the world. The carnival has traditions that date back to the 19th century. Four days before Lent, Barranquilla decks itself out to receive national and foreign tourists to join together with the city's inhabitants to enjoy four days of intense festivities. During the carnival, Barranquilla's normal activities are put aside as the city gets busy with street dances, musical and masquerade parades. The Carnival Of Barranquilla includes dances such as the Spanish paleo, African Congo, and indigenous mice y mica's. Many styles of Colombian music are also performed, most prominently cumbia, and instruments include drums and wind ensembles. The Carnival of Barranquilla was proclaimed a Cultural Masterpiece of the Nation by Colombia's National Congress in 2002. Also the UNESCO, in Paris on November 7, 2003, declared it one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, and it was during Olga Lucia Rodriquez Carnival Queen year.

The Carnival starts on the Saturday before the Ash Wednesday with the Battle of the Flowers (La Batalla de Flores), which is considered one of the main activities. Then, The Great Parade (La Gran Parada) on Sunday and Monday is marked by an Orchestra Festival with Caribbean and Latin bands. Tuesday signals the end of the carnival, announced by the burial of Joselito Carnaval, who is mourned by everyone.

Barranquilla's Carnival slogan is: Those who live it are those who enjoy it (Quien lo vive, es quien lo goza).

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.
Ecuador

## Information

**Ecuador**, officially the **Republic of Ecuador** (Spanish: *República del Ecuador*, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: *Ikwadur Ripuwlika*; Shuar: *Ekuatur Nunka*), is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. Ecuador also includes the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific, about 1,000 kilometers (621 mi) west of the mainland. The capital is Quito. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Isean Eilian

## Description

Isean Eilian is a Tyderian male standing at 6' and 195lbs. He is 61 years old. He has silver-grey hair and beard. He is blind in his left eye and sometimes wears an eyepatch. His eye was wounded when he was a young Tyderian Ranger during a border skirmish with a Togrean border patrol. He is the 10th generation ruler from the Eilian family. His family has a long lineage and history ruling Tyderia and the Eilian family name is almost synonymous with the nation. He has one younger brother and one younger sister. He is married to Elara Grean. They have four children; two boys and two girls. He prefers more simple clothing; garb almost not befitting a king. He keeps a grey wolf as a pet that can often be found in the throne room lying at his feet. He is said to be a fine warrior and deadly archer even in his older age.

## Background

Isean was a child of the throne but sought to distance himself from it at an early age. As the eldest son, he knew that he would one day ascend to the throne but he spent much of his time building a life outside the throne room. He chose to go into the military and even became a Tyderian Ranger on his own merit. He served in the Tyderian military until he was 40 and became king a few years later when his father started to lose his wits due to old age.

## Personality

He is a stoic man and extremely strong-willed. He works very hard to show the Tyderian people that he did not just inherit the throne but that he deserves it. He is very reserved and seeks to isolate his nation from the rest of the Central Kingdoms. There are some within his court that feel that he is leading them down a path that will eventually lead to a weaker nation but Isean is a staunch believer in the old ways.
Guam

## Information

**Guam** is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. Guam's capital is Hagåtña, and the most populous village is Dededo. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States, reckoned from the geographic center of the U.S.. In Oceania, Guam is the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands and the largest island in Micronesia.

People born on Guam are American citizens but are politically disenfranchised, having no vote in the United States presidential elections while residing on Guam. Guam delegates to the United States House of Representatives have no vote on the floor. Indigenous Guamanians are the Chamoru, historically known as the Chamorro, who are related to the Austronesian peoples of Malay archipelago, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Polynesia. But unlike most of its neighbors, Chamorro language is not classified as a Micronesian or Polynesian language. Rather, like Palauan, it possibly constitutes an independent branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language family. As of 2022, Guam's population is 168,801. Chamorros are the largest ethnic group, but a minority on the multi-ethnic island. The territory spans 210 square miles (540 km2; 130,000 acres) and has a population density of 775 per square mile (299/km2).

The Chamorro people settled the island approximately 3,500 years ago. Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, while in the service of Spain, was the first European to visit the island on March 6, 1521. Guam was colonized by Spain in 1668. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, Guam was an important stopover for the Spanish Manila Galleons.

During the Spanish–American War, the United States captured Guam on June 21, 1898. Under the 1898 Treaty of Paris, Spain ceded Guam to the U.S. effective April 11, 1899.

*Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Dragon Bridge (Zmajski most)

**Dragon Bridge (Zmajski most)**  is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Slovenia**.

## Information

"***The Dragon Bridge*** (Slovene: Zmajski most, historically also Zmajev most) is a road bridge located in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. It crosses the Ljubljanica River. between Kopitar Street (Kopitarjeva ulica) and Ressel Street (Resljeva cesta), to the north of the Ljubljana Central Market at Vodnik Square.

It was built in the beginning of the 20th century, when Ljubljana was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As one of the best examples of reinforced concrete bridges and of the Vienna Secession style, the bridge is today protected as a technical monument. It is intended primarily for motorised traffic. "

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.