FDC from Belarus／FDC de la Biélorussie

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year／

Joyeux Noël et Bonne année

FDC from Croatia／FDC de la Croatie

CHRISTMAS 2010／NOËL 2010

Adoration of the Shepherds, Josip Biffel, Gallery “Šimun” of the Franciscan Monastery of St. Anthony, Dubrave near Brčko, Bosnia and Herzegovina Christmas lasts. Already for 2010 years the Child is born into its death and resurrection. Ever since the world has been counting time from this birth, the scene of birth was being complemented and enriched. Apart from the main characters, there appear and exchange also the episodists; metaphors gain bodies and the warm muteness of animals completes the human register. The spirit of time arranges the story, lavishing presents and deducing the story to essentials. The styles and epochs have been exchanging round the stall, but never disregarded it. Many painters and sculptors have brought the goodness of their lives, dear lineaments of their wives and children, their next of kins and even their own into the scene of birth. By one’s own experience or longing anyone could settle in this scene. It survived also the chase of narration in modern times. A new, sometimes stiff emotion has carried over the torches of Bethlehem into our time. The painter Josip Biffel (born in 1933, graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb in 1959 in the class of Đuro Tiljak, professor at the same Academy) is among many who bowed in front of the stall. He did it in a modern way, renouncing the tiny details and filling out the space of great expansibility by the magic of light. The blue darkness of the sky and the little cave, the caring Joseph and animals in it, the reflection of light across the distant country, the night behind the shoulders of modest characters who had heard the call and have come to admire the new life, the shine on the mother and child, on the crown of a magical tree dialoguing with heavenly voices and the unusual purple sent off by the night – so could maybe Biffel’s painting be translated into word. Biffel has not taken that much with him from his professor at the Academy, much more has he exchanged with his contemporaries, with Ivančić, Stančić, Lesiak…A great part of his work he devoted to sacral motifs and especially to sacral spaces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Creation of space, investigation of its dimensions, rotating of horizons, compression or extension of deepnesses are main features of his poetics. Exactly his paintings concerned with space are probably his most own and finest works. And this space is filled with colours that carry light and darkness, that replace the description by their shine and glowing. The Gallery “Šimun”, housing Biffel’s painting together with seven hundred and twenty other Croatian modern works of art, from which also this year’s Christmas stamp comes, is the collection of the great Franciscan collector, Fra Stjepan Pavić. It is also one of the most beautiful collections of Bosnia and Herzegovina and also Croatia which contributes to understanding and defining of not only our but also universal homeland.

FDC from Belarus／FDC de la Biélorussie

Flora - Endangered plants of Belarus／

La flore - les usines Mises en danger de la Biélorussie

"H"：Oxlip paigle
"P"：Dark-winged orchis

Letter “H” is equal to the surface tariff of a letter up to 20 gram abroad.
Letter “P” is equal to the air-mail tariff of a letter up to 20 gram abroad.

FDC from Malaysia／FDC de la Malaisie

Children's Pets 2011／

Les Animaux de compagnie d'Enfants 2011

Young children need a hobby or pastime. Not only will an interesting hobby keep children entertained, but many hobbies provide an educational experience as well. In this day and age of video games and computers, parents should encourage their children to spend time with other educational and challenging interests that can also build positive morale and outlook. Some hobbies that begin when a person is young may even develop into a lifelong interest such as keeping a pet.

Pets are domestic or tamed animals kept for companionship or merely for the beauty of the animals. Having pets at home is one of the most common hobbies that people all over the world share. Children raised with pets show many benefits. It is also a recommended hobby for children as it teaches them responsibility and how to care for animals and also help children develop their social skill.

While dogs and cats are the most popular household pets all over the world due to their loyal or playful characteristics and attractive appearance, other popular pets include rabbits, hamsters and fish. Today even pets like spiders, pythons and other exotic animals are also becoming widely known amongst animal enthusiasts.

While all kinds of pets can bring cheer and joy to children, it is important to choose a pet that is right for your family, your home and your lifestyle; and one that your child can care for. A goldfish in an aquarium will be ideal for even the smallest of spaces. However, for have a big dog, you will need a lot of space. Also be prepared for a long term commitment of caring for pets such as dogs, cats and rabbits, that can live up to ten years. Pet keeping not only involves caring for the animal but also includes the costs of feeding and medical bills that may be unavoidable to ensure that the pets are in the best of health. Pets can serve different purposes for children and can be one of the most rewarding of all hobbies. On the other hand, the most common reasons for not owning a pet are the lack of time, lack of suitable housing and lack of ability to care for the pet when travelling. Therefore proper planning is necessary to help make pet ownership a positive experience for everyone and create fond memories that last a lifetime.

Dogs

Dogs are known as man's best friend due to their loyalty to their owner. Dogs are lovable, fun and playful. They love all outdoor exercises especially playing "fetch". There are a wide variety of breeds with different advantages and disadvantages. However the correct breed or dog depends on the kind of space available in owner's home.

The smaller breed is ideal if kept in a small apartment or house.

Cats

Aloof as they may seem, cats are actually playful but well-manner creatures. Cats like to be pampered by humans. Cats show their affection for their owners not only through purring, but also by pawing your arms, legs or elsewhere on your body.

Cats are also avid spectators. They love to see what is going on around them. They do these by jumping to high places like the sofa, cabinet or table to keep a watchful eye on you and what you're doing.

Rabbits

Rabbits have always been popular as pets, especially among children. They never fail to amuse the little ones with their cute and cuddly looks and behavior. However, animals such as rabbits that are kept in cages require a little more attention. Since they are kept in enclosures, it would be more considerate if they are allowed room to move freely. Rabbits should never be kept in small enclosures for a long period of time. Their enclosure should be big enough so that they can easily hop and run about and hide when it wants to. Animals kept at home should be provided with a sense of being in their natural habitat. This way, they feel free and they live happily.

Another important aspect is that rabbits are physically too delicate to be handled roughly. Rabbits take some time to get used to their new surroundings and new companions. When these creatures feel frightened, they become defensive and exhibit behaviour of biting, scratching or running away. Therefore, it is important to help children understand how to care for rabbits and understand its needs and requirements.

Rabbits are also prone to a few diseases that are hard to treat. although rabbits require less grooming than dogs and cats, proper diet and hygiene of their feeding and bedding area will ensure a healthy and happy rabbit.

FDC from Israel／FDC de l'Israël

Endangered Even-toed Ungulate Species／

Espèce menacée - Les artiodactyles

FDC from Japan／FDC du Japon

The 60th Anniversary of Enforcement of the Local Autonomy Law - Saga Prefecture／

Le 60ème Anniversaire de Mise en vigueur de la Loi d'Autonomie Locale - la Préfecture de saga

Saga Prefecture (佐賀県 Saga-ken) is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita. The capital is the city of Saga.


In ancient times the area composed by Nagasaki Prefecture and Saga Prefecture was called Hizen Province. The current name dates from the Meiji Restoration. Rice farming culture has prospered here since ancient times, and vestiges can be seen at the ruins of Nabatake in Karatsu and the Yoshinogari site in Yoshinogari.

From the Kamakura period to the Muromachi period it is thought that over 100 feudal clans existed. Also exerting great influence during this time was a samurai clan operating along the Genkai Sea called the Matsuratō. Upon entering the Sengoku period, the Ryūzōji clan expanded their control to include all of Hizen and Chikugo Provinces, and part of Higo and Chikuzen Provinces. After the death of daimyo Takanobu Ryūzōji, Naoshige Nabeshima took control of the political situation, and by 1607 all of the Ryūzōji clan's domain was under the control of the Nabeshima clan.

In the Edo period this area was called the Saga Domain (佐賀藩 Saga-han), and it included three sub-domains: the Hasunoike, Ogi and Kashima Domains. Also within the current borders of Saga Prefecture during this time were the Karatsu Domain (唐津藩 Karatsu-han) and two territories of the Tsushima-Fuchū Domain (対馬府中藩 Tsushimafuchū-han). Saga Domain and its sub-domains continued to be ruled by the Nabeshima clan, its various illegitimate family lineages and members of the former Ryūzōji clan, and politically the area was relatively stable. However, the cost of defending Nagasaki was increasing and, difficult from the start, the financial situation was worsened by the great Kyōhō famine and the Siebold Typhoon of 1828. Nevertheless, due to the large area of reclaimed land from the Ariake Sea arable land was able to increase significantly and by the 1840s the annual koku of Saga Domain increased to about 670,000, twice that of 200 years before.

Around the middle of the 19th century, Naomasa Nabeshima strove to set right the domain's financial affairs, reduce the number of government officials, and encourage local industry such as Arita porcelain, green tea, and coal. Also, thanks to the proximity of the international port of Nagasaki, new technologies were introduced from overseas, such as the reverberatory furnace and models of steam locomotives.

After the Boshin war, many people from Saga Domain assisted in the Meiji Restoration. In the Meiji era the modernization of coal mines in Kishima and Higashimatsuura districts, among others, progressed bolstered by the construction of railroads.

La préfecture de Saga (佐賀県, Saga-ken) est située dans la partie nord-ouest de Kyūshū, au Japon. Elle est entourée par la préfecture de Fukuoka à l'est, la préfecture de Nagasaki à l'ouest, la mer de Genkai au nord, et la mer d'Ariake au sud, où la différence entre la marée-haute et la marée-basse est d'environ six mètres.

Avant 1871 et la mise en place du système des préfectures, la région composée par la préfecture de Saga et la préfecture de Nagasaki était occupée par la province de Hizen. Pendant la période Edo, le clan Nabeshima dominait la région,ce qui lui vaut une célébrité mondiale grâce au Hagakure.

La région de Saga a connu très tôt la riziculture et des vestiges de rizières de cette époque ont été retrouvées aux ruines de Nabatakeiseki à Kuratsu et à Yoshinogari.

FDC from Singapore／FDC de la Singapour

Zodiac series: Rabbit／la série de Zodiaque : Lapin

FDC from Latvia／FDC de la Lettonie

Rabbit／Le lapin