Folk Art

Hong Kong has combined with about a dozen countries so far in producing a joint issue on a different cultural theme.  This year in October they will issue stamps on local food with Malaysia but in 2011 they joined with Romania to celebrate Folk Art.

The lion head is a dough figurine, an art that has been practiced in China it is said for 4000 years. They are usually of legendary figures or mythical beasts.  Every dough maker has their own dough formula with its own characteristics and preservatives but its main ingredient is wheat.  Simple tools are used to add detail to the figurine, small scissors, a comb, bamboo splints and bone needles.  Traditionally Chinese banquets had a table of offerings to the gods composed of flowers and figurines, after the feast the decorations become toys for children or were thrown away.  The lion head symbolises luck and blessings

The painting of eggs in Romania is done with melted wax, the patterns applied with a pencil like tool called a chişiţă.   At Easter on Holy Thursday women and children gather to spend time painting eggs with symbols of spring and rebirth of nature. In times gone by they were considered to have magic power. Each colour or pattern is meant to combat certain forms of evil and the eggs bring good luck to the house.

An entry to Viridian Postcard's Sunday Stamps theme - Folk Art