The 25th of January 2013 marked 20 years since signing the Treaty on friendly relations and cooperation between Romania and the Republic of Poland, occasion on which Romfilatelia introduces into circulation the joint stamp issue Romania - Poland with the theme Folk Art - Traditional Folk Costumes.
Folk art is the natural expression of the rural community’s life and aspirations, revealing the sensitivity and life horizon thereof. In the general framework of folk art, the costumes are real “identity cards” of the inhabitants of different geographical areas, being developed following a long creation process and maintaining values of the tradition and culture of numerous generations.
The Romanian costume from Bistrita-Nasaud area denotes an optimism plastically expressed by the contrast between the white fabric of the shirts and the strong red of the embroideries. Spectacular and specific to the area are the men’s vests with “canaci”, decorated with successions of polychrome silk tassels and the long sheepskin coat worn by the women, embroidered with floral motifs and lining leather applications and large silk tassels. The hats decorated with a disk-shaped peacock feather, a symbol of the lads and paunitele (peahens), an adornment specific to the girls, are unique in the country. The latter consists in two bead-embroidered circles attached above the ears and surrounded by peacock feathers.
The Polish costume from Krakow area has bright colours and joins beautiful, strong shades of red and blue to black and white. The women wear skirts lavishly decorated with flowers, embroidered vests and beads, especially red. Unmarried girls may wear flower crowns with ribbons, while married women wear head scarves. Men wear blue vests with embroideries and tassels, pants with vertical white and red stripes and red hats with ribbons and peacock feathers. A precious accessory of the costume is represented by the tall boots worn by both men and women.
The stamp of the joint issue illustrates both the Romanian folk costume from Bistrita-Nasaud area, and the Polish one from Krakowarea. The costumes reproduced on the postage stamp distinguish through the peacock feather, a characteristic joint element, the hats with the disk-shaped peacock feather being a symbol of the lads in both folk cultures. The very bright colours and the floral decorations are accompanied by the pride of each pair wearing them.
The perforated souvenir sheet margin reproduces the logo of the Polish and Romanian friendship designed by the Polish illustrator Jacek Doszyn, whose work won the competition organized at the beginning of 2013 by the Polish Institute in Bucharest under the patronage of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Romania. The logo is designed to accompany and highlight all the events organised over 2013 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary since signing the Treaty on friendly relations and cooperation between Romania and the Republic of Poland.
