Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau will issue the stamp theme “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Macao” on 17^th May, 2024. Macao, as a place of cultural integration, is home to a variety of folk customs and traditions. Over the past four hundred years, Chinese and Western cultures have taken root and flourished here, creating a unique cultural landscape in Macao, and forming precious “intangible cultural heritage”.

These intangible cultural heritage items have been passed down through generations in Macao and are closely related to daily life, including folk customs, traditional skills, performing arts, etc. Among them, the intangible cultural heritage in the category of performing arts is diversified in form and variety, with items that embody the inheritance of Chinese traditional culture in Macao and those deeply influenced by Portuguese culture.

This issue includes a set of four stamps. Four items of intangible cultural heritage in the category of performing arts are selected as the stamp themes. Among them, “Taoist Ritual Music” and “Patuá Theatre” were inscribed on the “National List of Representative Items of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of China” in 2011 and 2021. “Portuguese Folk Dance” and “Baatyam Percussion” were recorded in the “Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Macao” in 2020. The designs present the characteristics of each item of performing arts, revealing the harmonious integration of Chinese and Western cultures.

The souvenir sheet features “Cantonese Opera” which was jointly nominated by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and inscribed on UNESCO’s “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” in 2009. It uses the famous play “A Fragrant Death” from “Floral Princess” as the design theme. The popular lyrics of the song “Falling petals hide the moon, bring a cup of wine to the altar” blend with the scene harmoniously. The well-known scene that captures the essence of the play is vividly displayed on the souvenir sheet through its exquisite design.

The above issue will be available for sale at the General Post Office (9:00a.m. to 5:30p.m.), the Communications Museum (9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m., 2:30p.m. to 5:30p.m.), and the “Rua do Campo” Post Office (9:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.). The mail service for the philatelic products cancelled with the commemorative postmark of this issue will be available on the issue date at the above locations. The philatelic products are as follows:

The stamp designer of this issue is Mr. Lei Tak Seng, and the text of the information brochure is written by Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government.

This is the sixth theme of 2024 issues. The previous issued stamps are “Lunar Year of the Dragon” on 05/01/2024, “150^th Anniversary of Conde de São Januário General Hospital” on 06/01/2024, the label stamp “Lunar Year of the Dragon” on 01/02/2024, “140^th Anniversary of Macao Post and Telecommunications” on 01/03/2024, “75 Years of the Publication of O Clarim” on 23/04/2024, and “40^th Anniversary of Television Broadcast in Macao” will be issued on 13/05/2024.

Technical Data of Stamp “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Macao”

Details