CELEBRATIONS – FOLKLORICS – PATRIA GAUCHA

Celebrations - Folklorics

Patria Gaucha

Characteristics:

Official Name : Fiesta de la Patria Gaucha
Celebrated Since : 1987
Ubication : Laguna de las lavanderas, Tacuarembó, Uruguay

Description :

The Patria Gaucha Festival is an event held annually in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay since 1987, on the grounds of the Laguna de las Lavanderas.

The event is held every year, with duration of five days in March, unlike the early years that was held in February. Among the many activities that take place in the week of the festival, we can highlight rodeos, music stages with various artists from different genres, both national and international, competition between nativist societies and a parade with typical costumes where hundreds of people are involved.

Competition :

During the development of the various events, companies teams called Criollas, are housed in areas called "Fogones" that are built by themselves responding to a chosen topic.

To highlight the figure of the horse, it is of great importance in the competition the events in the “Ruedo”, where various activities are performed such as: shooting tie, boleadoras, rodeos, and others.

The party usually develops around the Criollas Societies, and there, a number of activities and competitions where each Society participates with the aim of adding more points, access the jackpot, and being elected as the best in the event is held.

Philatelic Issues

2016 – Uruguay – Unique Miniature Sheet, from Patria Gaucha Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: March 4th, 2016
Printed: 10.000 Copies
Type: Unique Miniature Sheet from Series
Value: UYP 20

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 90 mm. x 60 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

CELEBRATIONS – CARNIVAL – URUGUAYAN CARNIVAL

Celebrations - Carnival

Uruguayan Carnival

Characteristics:

Cultural Origins : African, European
Typical Instruments : Candombe Drums

Subgenres :
Candombe Beat, Murga, Comparsa, Revista, Candombe

Description:

Uruguayan Carnival is a popular festival that takes place every year in Uruguay from mid January to late February.

It is related to candombe, Murga and tablados. It has evolved into a dance parade in which different comparsas play the drums and dance to the music at "Desfile Innaugural del Carnaval" and Llamadas parade.

The biggest carnival celebrations are in the capital Montevideo and can last up to 40 days and it involves a series of cultural events such as dance parades in the streets, street stages called "tablados" and an artistic contest in the "Teatro de Verano" (Summer Theatre) in Montevideo.

Origins:

The background to the Uruguayan Carnival come in Europe, where in different contexts, the celebration of the harvest or a religious festival, served as a space for meeting people, creating a space for individual and collective freedom.

Already on Uruguayan soil, in colonial times, the days of Carnival and Christmas and New Year, Montevideans black slaves were covered with bright robes and gaudy and went outside to go to the city walls, whose feet were allowed to sing their songs and perform dances. Some common practices carnival in Europe, bran and flour shed, shed water syringes, throw eggs, oranges, or other objects were imported into Uruguay. The importance of some of these practices by the first inhabitants of the city of Montevideo led to the carnival celebrations.

According to Juan Carlos pattern, it is possible that in 1860, when two sources called "Wells of the King", the "van guerrillas" were disseminated and conform the first carnival practices were built.

Philatelic Issues

2016 – Uruguay – Unique Stamp, from Carnival Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: February 19th, 2016
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Unique Stamp from Series
Value: UYP 20

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 32 mm. x 71 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

CELEBRATIONS – CHINESE NEW YEAR – FIRE MONKEY “2016”

Celebrations - Chinese New Year

Fire Monkey "2016"

Characteristics:

Start : February 8th, 2016
End : January 27th, 2017
Element : Fire

Description:

The Monkey (猴) is the ninth of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Monkey is associated with the Earthly Branch symbol 申.

Personality:

Occupying the 9th position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Monkey possesses such character traits as curiosity, mischievousness, and cleverness. Forever playful, Monkeys are the masters of practical jokes. Even though their intentions are always good, this desire to be a prankster has a tendency to create ill will and hurt feelings.

Although they are inherently intellectual and creative, Monkeys at times have trouble exhibiting these qualities. When that happens, they appear to others to be confused. But nothing could be further from the truth as Monkeys thrive on being challenged. Monkeys prefer urban life to rural, and their favorite pastime is people-watching.

The Fire Monkey:

The Fire Monkey is the most active and aggressive of the Monkeys. Naturally dominant, he automatically gravitates towards leadership roles and is competitive in whatever he is doing. He will need to be careful not to let this overwhelm him and turn into toxic jealousy.

He also constantly strives to be in control of whatever situation he is in, which can become overbearing. The main drive for whatever he embarks on is to head straight for the top and stay there. However, when he is in charge of a situation, his people skills kick in and he does nurture those under his charge who need it.

With his Fire energy, this agile, impulsive Monkey often leaps where angels fear to tread. This reckless behavior sometimes turns out to not be to the Fire Monkey’s advantage. However, he is very creative, dynamic and has a particularly good talent at drawing people to him – this often helps him get out of scrapes. He’ll leap from tree to tree – whichever has the most fruit at the time – then find the quickest, cleverest escape before others get to him.

In general though, the Fire Monkey is flamboyant and charmingly friendly, and has a large social circle.

Life Lessons:

The Fire Monkey’s aggression needs to be channeled correctly to correct and positive directions, or he risks become very destructive and harmful. If the Fire Monkey could develop more patience, it would be good for him and those who work with him The Fire Monkey also needs to think through his ideas before acting on them in order to safeguard his own interests.

Philatelic Issues

2016 – Uruguay – Unique Stamp, from Year of the Monkey Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: January 28th, 2016
Printed: 15.003 Copies
Type: Unique Stamp from Series
Value: UYP 20

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 27 mm. x 39 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated