2012 - The Year of Dragon
Korea
Date of Issue: 1 December 2011
The year of 2012 is the year of the dragon.
Dragon is the creature of legends, the dragon is described to have an immense body of a snake, the horns of a deer, the ear of a cow, scaly skin, and four legs.Since ancient times, the dragon has been associated to greatness, thus symbolizing royal authority or the throne. Almost everything associated with kings was preceded by the prefix of “yong” (dragon) such as Yongan (king’s face), Gollyongpo (king’s ceremonial attire), Yongsang (the low wooden bench on which the King sat), etc.
The dragon has been positioned as an auspicious symbol in daily life: a dream of forthcoming conception that involves a dragon led to the expectation of the baby growing up to be a great man; farmers worshipped the dragon as the god of water that governs the success of their harvest; fishermen worshipped the dragon as the Dragon King that governs the sea.
New Christmas stamps
Italy
Date of Issue: 19 November 2011
The Italian Post has issued two stamps dedicated to the Holy Christmas 2011.
The first stamp reproduces the painting "Madonna and Child with Pomegranate" The second stamp on the secular subject is a typical Christmas snowy landscape with reindeer standing on the night sky.
Paintings on Christmas Stamps
The Christmas 2011 stamps feature some of the most notable artistic representations of The Nativity by world famous artists.
Slovakia
Date of Issue: 13 December 2011
Gibraltar
Date of Issue: 7 December 2011
Belarus
Date of Issue: 11 November 2011
Christmas stamp with unique design
Uruguay
The stamp illustrates Uruguayan version of Maria, gaucho (shepherd) and baby Jesus in Christmas crib, creations by Uruguayan artisan Maria Martinez. The figures are entirely handmade: they are made of pumpkin seeds, leather, wool, seeds of the country and other raw material in their natural forms.
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