Uruguay - 2014 - 135 Years of "Centro Gallego de Montevideo", a Galician Social Club ( Previous / Next )
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Issue information:
Country: Uruguay
Date: September 10th, 2014
FDC Type: Official Cover from Post Office
FDC not sent Shape and Size: Rectangular [165 mm. x 105 mm.]
FDC sent on issue day Shape and Size: Rectangular [165 mm. x 105 mm.]
Topics:
Issue:
As Main Topic: I will choose The Galicians, or Galician People, a National, Cultural and Ethnolinguistic Group, whose historic homeland is Galicia, an Autonomous Community in northwest Spain, with the official status of a Historic nationality.
Also their Homeland, Galicia, could be considered the Main Topic, or going to more precise ones, first Galician People Diaspora, and then Galician People Diaspora in Uruguay, that is the forth in population outside Spain , and through another aproach Galician People Social Clubs, or Diaspora Social Clubs, and of course, inside this Topic, The "Centro Gallego de Montevideo" in particular too, that has the particularity to be the Oldest Galician People Social Club of the World.
Perhaps too, the Main Topic could be a wider: National, Cultural and Ethnolinguistic Groups, instead of the Galicians in Particular
Then, surrounding the main topic, could be found the followings: First, could be one related to Human Population Massive Migrations or Diasporas, and also it causes that generally are Economy and Wars.
In particular the Galicians Diaspora that occured since the Late 19th Century to Eearly 20th century was provoked at first by Economic Issues, as at that time Galicia was a Relatively Isolated Village Society whose main sources of income were Subsistence Agriculture and Fishing. Its Agricultural sector continued to be among the most backward in Spain and Farm productivity was severely hampered by the tiny size of the individual farmsteads known as Minifundios, that was the result of a System of inheritance that distributed land plots in a closed rural system to a growing population by requiring that equal shares be bequeathed to every descendant, so The land had became subdivided so much that most of the plots were too small to support a family or to be economically viable.
The latest waves of Emigration of Galicians was caused too by the starting of the Spanish Civil War, that was fought from 17th July 1936 to 1st April 1939 between the Republicans, who were Loyal to the democratically elected Spanish Republic, and the Nationalists, a Fascist Rebel Group led by General Francisco Franco. The Nationalists prevailed, and Franco ruled Spain for the next 36 years, from 1939 until his death in 1975. The war is often called the "dress rehearsal" for World War II.
Added to the difficult situation both Economical and Political that the Region of Galicia was suffering, on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Uruguay in particular, and all South America in general, were in a period of both Peace and Welfare, so these lands were the Destination chosen by most of the Galicians.
South America has the largest number of people of Galician descent outside of Spain. Several million South Americans are descendants of Galician immigrants, mostly in Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil, and Uruguay.
In northeastern Brazil, people with light or blue eyes or light colored hair are often called galegos (Galicians), even if not of Galician descent, because of the large number of Galicians that settled in the region in the early 20th century.
In Argentina and Uruguay, the term "Gallegos" was often used for all Spaniards because a large part of them were Galicians when they arrived in the first half of the 20th century. Today, Buenos Aires is the city with the second largest number of people with Galician ancestry, although most share the mixed origins of most Argentinians.
Concluding the relationship established by the Human Population Massive Migrations, it is clear that associated with them is also the Topics of History, in particular European History, SouthAmerica History, also Century 19th History and Century 20th History, and even Geography could be included in that final relation too.
The other natural relationship could be made to the Club itself, the "Centro Gallego de Montevideo", specially about one of it locations, the one at Downtown, that was Opened in 1923, a Building of Eclectic style, which is currently Cultural heritage of Uruguay and also Cultural heritage of Galician People, in which you can visit: the "Rosalía de Castro" Rooms, reserved for special occasions, and named honouring this Galician Romanticist Writer and Poet, also the "Concepción Arenal" Library; that also honour another Galician woman, Concepción Arenal Ponte, a Galician feminist writer and activist; and the "Castelao" a Room for reading, named after Alfonso Daniel Rodríguez Castelao, commonly known as Castelao, a Galician Politician, Writer, Painter and Doctor, considereded as One of the fathers of Galician Nationalism; then a kind of Pub called "El Viejo Pancho", as the pseudonym that José Alonso y Trelles, a Galician Uruguayan Writer and Poet, used for his work; And finally the Chamber "Valle Inclán", a Theater with a very rich Architecture that astonishes all of his visitors, named in hounour of Ramón María del Valle-Inclán y de la Peña, a Galician Dramatist, novelist and Member of the Spanish Generation of 98, considered perhaps as the most noteworthy and certainly the most radical dramatist working to subvert the traditionalism of the Spanish theatrical establishment in the early part of the 20th century.
Related to the Club itself, the 135th Anniversary could be another one included, and a very rare in Anniversaries Topics.
Also another relation could be done to the Galician Culture whose first elements can be traced back to the Bronze Age Celtic Civilization known as the Castro Culture. Although being taking over by the Roman Republic and Empire, after the empire declination the Galicia Region was followed by the rule of two Germanic Tribes, The Suevic, who settled in considerable numbers, and The Visigoths in the Middle Ages. Later, in 718, the region briefly came under the control of The Moors after their conquest of the Visigothic Kingdom, but The Galicians successfully rebelled against Moorish rule in 739, and Joined their Christian neighbour the Kingdom of Asturias.
After being ruled by very different cultures, is with the first that they experienced, the Celtic Culture, the one that Galician Culture felt more represented. In the 19th century a Group of Romantic and Nationalist writers and scholars, among them Eduardo Pondal and Manuel Murguía, led a "Celtic revival" initially Based on the historical testimonies of ancient Roman and Greek authors (Pomponius Mela, Pliny the Elder, Strabo and Ptolemy), who wrote about the Celtic peoples who inhabited Galicia; but they Also based this revival in linguistic and onomastic data, and in The similarity of some aspects of the culture and the geography of Galicia with that of the Celtic countries in Ireland, Brittany and Britain. The similarities include Legends and Traditions, Decorative and popular arts and music. It Also included the green hilly landscape or the ubiquity of Iron Age hill-forts, Neolithic megaliths and Bronze Age cup and ring marks.
During the late 19th and early 20th century this revival permeated Galician society. In 1916 Os Pinos, a poem by Eduardo Pondal, was chosen as the lyrics for the new Galician hymn. One of the strophes of the poem says: Galicians, be strong / ready to great deeds / align your breast / for a glorious end / sons of the noble Celts / strong and traveler / fight for the fate / of the homeland of Breogán. The Celtic past became an integral part of the self-perceived Galician identity, as a result of that, an important number of cultural association and sport clubs received names related to the Celts, among them Celta de Vigo, Céltiga FC, or Fillos de Breogán. From the 70's a series of Celtic music and cultural festivals were also popularized, being the most notable the Festival Internacional do Mundo Celta de Ortigueira, at the same time that Galician folk musical bands and interpreters became usual participants in Celtic festivals elsewhere, as in the Interceltic festival of Lorient, where Galicia sent its first delegation already in 1976.
A final relationship that could be made is with the People of Galician Origin, an there it is interesting to remark that both Former and Actual Presidents of Cuba Fidel Castro and Raúl Castro, also Former President of Argentina Raúl Alfonsín, and of course, the Former President of Uruguay, and the recently Elected one from the 2015 - 2020 Period, Dr. Tabaré Vázquez.
Now, regarding the desing of the Special Cancelation: Besides the legends that states about the 135th Anniversary, and the Logotype of the "Centro Gallego de Montevideo" Club, what I think is the best achieved part of the design is the use of the Shell of Saint James as the background for the Logotype of the Club.
This Shell of Saint James, besides being the Animal called Scallop, a common name that is primarily applied to any one of numerous species of Saltwater Clams or Marine Bivalve Mollusks in the taxonomic Family Pectinidae, The Scallops, it is also the Traditional Emblem of James, son of Zebedee, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, and traditionally considered the first apostle to be martyred, son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of John the Apostle, also called James the Greater or James the Great to distinguish him from James, son of Alphaeus and James the Just. James the Greater is The patron saint of Spain.
The Shell of Saint James, is also a popular emblem of Pilgrims on the Way of Saint James to the apostle's shrine at Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, and by extension an emblem of the Way of Saint James itself.
The Camino de Santiago, also known by the English names Way of St. James, St. James's Way, St. James's Path, St. James's Trail, Route of Santiago de Compostela, and Road to Santiago, is the name of any of the pilgrimage routes (most commonly the Camino Francés or French route) to the shrine of the Apostle St. James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried. Many take up this route as a Form of spiritual path or retreat, for their Spiritual growth.
Legend holds that St. James's remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain where he was buried on what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela. (The name Santiago is the local Galician evolution of Vulgar Latin Sanctu Iacobu, "Saint James".)
The Way can take one of dozens of pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Traditionally, as with most pilgrimages, the Way of Saint James began at one's home and ended at the pilgrimage site. However a few of the routes are considered main ones. During the Middle Ages, the route was highly travelled. However, the Black Death, the Protestant Reformation and political unrest in 16th century Europe led to its decline. By the 1980s, only a few pilgrims per year arrived in Santiago. Later, the route attracted a growing number of modern-day pilgrims from around the globe. The route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in October 1987; it was also named one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.
Now, going to the Logotype of the "Centro Gallego de Montevideo" Club, it is clearly composed by two elements. The first is a kind of Shield very similar to the Coat of Arms of Galicia, in this case with the Letter 'G' instead of the Calice, however still Surrounded by the seven Crosses that represents the seven historic provinces of Galicia: A Coruña, Santiago, Betanzos, Mondoñedo, Lugo, Ourense, Tui. The second element is the Cross of Saint James, also called the Santiago cross or the "Cruz Espada", that is a charge in the form of a cross. It combines a Cross fitchy (the lower limb is pointed, as if to be driven into the ground) with either a cross fleury (the arms end in fleurs-de-lys) or a cross moline (the ends of the arms are forked and rounded).
Most notably, a Red Cross of Saint James with flourished arms, surmounted with an escallop, that match exactly the pattern of the cancelation, was the Emblem of the military Order of Santiago.
Finally, in a more symbolic way: The ideas that remain in my mind after doing this analysis on this release, are the ones of Humanity, Solidarity, Integration without loosing Identity, the Whole world as all humans home. This kind of Clubs are great institutions for both Keep the Culture alive, and also to Made it known, a group not to be isolated from outside, on the contrary to integrate to other cultures in order to make a richer world.
Another concept that I think is powerfully expressed in this Release, is the one of Path, of Growth, of Movement to a better State. This is mainly seen in the Massive Migration of Galicians, also in the Creation of Galicians Clubs like the one that is commemorated in this issue, and finally in choosing the Shell of Saint James as part of the Cancelation design, reinforcing the same idea with another Path related with Galician People too, however, this time with Galicia as the Destination, and Cristiansim Religion as the main motive, or at least as a Path of Spiritual Growth.
Stamps selection:
The stamps selected were: A stamp released on August 30th of 2004 about the 125 Years of "Centro Gallego de Montevideo", and a stamp issued on September 24th of 1998 commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the First Overseas Mail between Montevideo and La Coruña.
The reason for selecting these stamps was: quite different for each one, however it is clear that both are heavily related with the Galicia Region.
For the first, the Selection Reason is trivial. The existence, and availability, of a Stamp commerating another anniversary of which is being honoured by a special cancelation release, make this stamp always the first choice in these kind of selections, because the Topic is identical.
Then, for the second stamp, as the Galician People, or Galicia Region, it not a Topic with many stamps, I think I was fortunate that at least there was one actually available for postage, so I choose this stamp that commemorates the Bicentenary of the First Overseas Mail between Montevideo and La Coruña, being La Coruña, still sometimes known as Corunna in English, and archaically as The Groyne, a city and municipality of Galicia, Spain. The second-largest city in the autonomous community and seventeenth overall in the country. The city is the provincial capital of the province of the same name, having also served as political capital of the Kingdom of Galicia from the 16th to the 19th centuries, and as a regional administrative centre between 1833 and 1982, before being replaced by Santiago de Compostela.
Besides that it was the only one available, another merit of the stamp selected, was that includes a nice popular Topic, that is Ships, or the more precise ones: Sailing Ships and Post Ships, and also Post History Topic.
The selection of this stamps, add the following topics: The first, besides reinforcing "Centro Gallego de Montevideo" Topic, and adding the 125th Anniversary Topic, it also, by it design, reinforces Buildings and Architecture, showing the facade of the Downtown Headquarter of the Club, that was previously mentioned, and adds Typical Clothing, and Typical Dance and Music, as it shows a couple dressed for dancing surely Muiñeira, a Traditional Dance and Musical Genre of Galicia, distinguished mainly by the tempo of 6/8, played expressive and lively, although some variants are performed in other time signatures. There are also variant types of muiñeira which remain in the tempo of 6/8 but which displace the accent in different ways.
The second one, besides adding the already mentioned ones: Sailing Ships, Post Ships, Post History, and the City of "La Coruña", one could dive deep a bit more in the History of the Post, and add that the Ship shown in the selected stamp is a Frigate named "La Princesa", in english "The Princess"
"La Princesa" on her First trip to Montevideo, Sailed from La Coruña on 15th December of 1767. On June 18th of 1768 left Montevideo back to La Coruña and anchored with all happiness in this Galician port on September 24th of 1768. Meanwhile, other frigates named: "La Diana", "La Diligencia", "La Nueva Cantabria", "El Patagón", and "El Tucumán", had sailed from La Coruña with the same mission, that was to Establish an Overseas Mail Service between Homeland Spain and his Colonies in Southamerica: Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Paraguay (today Bolivia), other occupations on what is now Argentina and Chile, and even the Viceroyalty of Perú.
The type of Ship, The Frigate, is any of several types of Warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries, however, in particular in the 18th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability.
The Classic Sailing Frigate, well-known today for its role in the Napoleonic wars, can be traced back to French developments in the second quarter of the 18th century. The French-built Médée of 1740 is often regarded as the first example of this type. These ships were square-rigged and carried all their main guns on a single continuous upper deck. The lower deck, known as the "gun deck", now carried no armament, and functioned as a "berth deck" where the crew lived, and was in fact placed below the waterline of the new frigates.
Another examples of this Frigates represented in stamps could be seen in the previous release about Bicentenary of the Naval Battle of Buceo .
Finally, this second stamp selected also adds the Topics: Philatelic Exhibition or Argentinian Philatelic Exhibitions, that could be included in a wider Philately, and in a specific one about ESPAMER '98, an exhibition that was held from August 20th to 28th, on Buenos Aires, the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, that is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the continent's southeastern coast.
Regarding this ESPAMER '98 relationship, in what seems to be the Logotype of this Philatelic Exhibition, a Building is included, however, I am not able to realize which one is it. Probably it should be The Buenos Aires Central Post and Communications Office, a Public building and Landmark in the San Nicolás district of Buenos Aires, because it was there where the Philatelic Exhibition was held, however the design in the stamps is quite different from the pictures I saw of this Argentinian Building.
If you consider that there are another topics in this stamp, that were not spot in this review, you are encouraged to telling me about them, so please do not hesitate to post a comment. I would appreciate your help very much.
