Slovene Proverbs and Sayings - When the cat's away, the mice will play!
Date of issue: 11.11.2022
Author: Luka Seme
Motive: When the cat's away, the mice will play!
Printed by: Agencija za komercijalnu djelatnost d.o.o., Zagreb, Croatia
Printing Process and Layout: 4-colour offset in sheets of 25 stamps
Paper: Tullis Russell Chancellor Litho PVA RMS GUM, 102 g/m2
Size: Stamp 29.82 x 42.60 mm
Perforation: Comb 14 : 14
Illustration:
Photo:
Slovene Proverbs and Sayings
When the cat’s away, the mice will play!
In the nineteenth century, when the collecting of proverbs and sayings became an increasingly widespread activity, this genre of oral folk creativity was often characterised as the most typical expression of the “national philosophy”. Numerous individuals collected and recorded these “national treasures” and the first collections appeared in manuscript and book form.
Proverbs and sayings can be the reflection of generalised, eternal truths and of different ways of understanding the relationships between man’s economic endeavours, social relations and spiritual questions. They can also be a reflection of entirely specific events and actions, in which case they are only applicable to specific periods of shorter or longer duration. Many of them have an educational purpose and they are likewise a reflection of the values and norms of individuals and groups. Some of them warn of dangers, excesses, missteps. Others ridicule or comment humorously on human virtues and frailties.
The proverb “When the cat’s away, the mice will play!” refers to the absence of a specific person in a family or working environment who holds the commanding role or the greatest authority. The proverb is frequently used to indicate the increased mischievousness of children when one of their parents is away from home, the boisterousness of schoolchildren when their teacher leaves the classroom for a moment, or the relaxed attitude of employees when their manager or supervisor is absent.
Janez Bogataj
