Today is Candlemas - a day when it was traditional to take down Christmas decorations (mine were put away last weekend). The weather here has been hinting at spring, alternating between 30s and 50s (low single digits to low teens in Celsius), so it seems fitting that it is also Imbolc, the pagan festival celebrating the beginning of spring, coinciding with St Bridgid's Day on Feb 1st, a public holiday in Ireland. And last week was the Lunar New Year, saying goodbye to the Year of the Dragon and welcoming the Year of the Snake. The Snake is associated with mystery and elegance, intelligence and energy, renewal and transformation.
USPS continues its lovely series of Lunar New Year stamps. I am a bit disappointed that this one isn't in the form of a mask like the rest of the set, however it is a nice stamp, with bright red foil flowers. I received it on this fun exchange envelope - I love the little snake Jessica drew!
It is difficult to capture the foil elements in a photo. It is not obvious from USPS where the foil is (if Viridian posts today, perhaps she will show the full sheet).
In an amazing mail coincidence, I received this fantastic snake envelope (paint and collage) from Eric on the first day of the Year of the Snake.
Update: this envelope took a hint from the snake quality of transformation, and arrived in a different form to how it started its journey
For more snakes on stamps, explore the links at See it on a Postcard
The snake looks as though it has decorated itself for the year, very flowery. Great envelopes.
ReplyDeleteIf you're a snake, you probably do have to decorate yourself :)
DeleteHappy mail!
ReplyDeleteYes, I decided to try and participate in mail art a bit more in 2025.
DeleteI love the drawing of a snake on the first envelope. And the lunar new year stamp, too. How did the yellow envelope design change? magic? :-)
ReplyDeleteThe snakes were collaged onto the second envelope. For some reason the blue snake traveled perfectly, and there's not even a different feel to the paper where the yellow one was. Mystery and transformation!
DeleteWhat a fantastic envelope!
ReplyDeleteThey are great, aren't they
DeleteIt doesn't look like a mask to me, but it is a fine stamp, as the rest of the series.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I cannot believe the mail monsters ate a whole snake!!
The mail monsters were hungry!
DeleteI like how the snake has accessorized itself.
ReplyDeleteThe snake did a great job :)
Delete