Located in the North-West corner of the Iberian Peninsula, Galicia is one of three autonomous regions in Spain that have their own official languages (Gallego) in addition to Castilian Spanish, the national language. The Galicians are descended from Spain's second wave of Celtic invaders (from the British Isles and western Europe) who came across the Pyrenees mountains in about 400 BC. The Romans, arriving in the second century BC, gave the Galicians their name, derived from the Latin gallaeci.
After the unification of the Spanish provinces under King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in the 15th century, Galicia existed as a poor region geographically isolated from the political center in Castile. With the discovery of the New World in 1492, large numbers emigrated from the region, such that today there are more Galicians in Argentina than in Galicia itself. Although Franco was a Galician himself, his dictatorial regime (1939-1975) suppressed the region's moves for autonomy. Since his death, a revival of Galician language and culture has taken place.
The upper part of the traditional costume of the women is composed of shirt (camisa), eight-point shawl or smaller shawl (mantillo), bodice, doublet (xubón), tight sleeveless undershirt (justillo), dengue (a piece of cloth, usually with velvet bits and inlaid with precious stones, which is worn on the back and with its two ends crossed on the chest to tie them again to the back), bolero jacket, and sapo (ornaments which are worn on the chest).
The lower part it is made of red wool skirt (saia or vasquiña), which has to do one turn and a half around the waist, apron, worn upon the skirt and tied to the waist, mantelo or muradana, worn under the apron, covering the skirt almost completely, and is usually decorated with velvet and precious stone designs, petticoat (enagua), made of linen and camarinas lace, and pants (pololos), a sort of trousers with lace finishes on the edges, which reach below the knees.
The men wear on the head monteira (which is generally triangular, but has various shapes depending on the area). The upper part of the costume consists of shirt, waistcoat, and jacket (short and waisted, made of wool, with narrow, short sleeves and two horizontal pockets. The lower part is made of cirolas (undergarment in white linen, cloth or wool, similar to a pair of small underpants), and faixa (long, rectangular cloth finished with fringes, which surrounds the waist above the underpants, it usually does two turns around and can have different colours).
Polainas are a kind of hoses which go from the knees to the feet and generally black-coloured. Polainas usually cover the front part of shoes, and are closed on the outer part of the leg with numerous buttons (if they are made of wool), buckles (in the case of leather) or laces (straw). Their appearance dates back to the 19th century and they replaced socks. They are often ornamented with a pompom matching the monteira. Both women and men wear zocos or chancas (clogs), made of leather and with a wooden sole.
About the stamps
About the first stamp, an United States postage stamp (?) I don't know anything.
The second stamp was issued on July 19, 2015 to mark the 61st Habaneras and Polyphony International Contest. This musical competition is held annually in Torrevieja (Alicante) since 1955. The contest enjoys national participation, in which choruses from all Spanish provinces have a place; and international participation, in which choruses from the five continents perform. The image's background is a sea environment and, in the foreground, the sculpture of La Bella Lola can be seen. This work of art is located in Torrevieja and pays homage to the women who wait for their most beloved to return home after working at sea. La Bella Lola is also the title of a well-known Habanera.
References
Galicians - Countries and Their Cultures
Sender: Antia / Antiapb (postcrossing) ES-434727
Sent from Ourense (Galicia / Spain), on 31.10.2016
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