Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit Stamps

in 2023, the U.S. Postal Service issues the fourth of 12 stamps in the latest Lunar New Year series. The Year of the Rabbit beginsJanuary 22, 2023, and ends on February 9, 2024.
Utilizing red, pink, and purple as the predominant colors-said to be lucky colors for individuals born during the Year of the Rabbi-the rabbit mask in the stamp art incorporates elements with symbolic meaning. Several of the patterns were created with thestyle of Asian textiles in mind as well as green flowers that represent the arival of spring, which Lunar New Year also signals inChinese culture. The crescent shape in the center of the rabbit's head references the lunar calendar on which Lunar New Year isbased and the celestial themes of the Chinese zodiac
The rabbit is the fourth of the 12 zodiac animal sians associated with the Chinese lunar calendar. Many ancient fables and legendsexplain the orcin of the zodiac sians. The most common story tells of the animals racing across a river to determine ther order inthe cycle, The rat crossed by riding on the back of the ox, jumping ahead at the last minute to win the race. Next came the ox,then the tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, and dog, followed by the boar in last place.
As with other zodiac signs, personality traits and other attributes are often associated with people born in the year of a particularanimal. Those born during the Year of the Rabbit may be seen as elegant, gracious, and kind. Pink, red, and purple are luckycolors for Rabbits, and plantain lilies may also bring good luck.
Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays for many Asian communities around the world and is primarily celebrated bypeople of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tibetan, Mongolian, Malaysian, and Filipino heritage. Across these varied cultures, manytraditions exist for ringing in a new year of good luck and prosperity.
Art director Antonio Alcala designed the stamp and pane with original art by Camille Chew.The Year of the Rabbit stamp is being issued as a Forever@ stamp in panes of 20. This Forever stamp will always be equal invalue to the current First-Class Mail@ one-ounce price.
Made in the USA.
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