Stamps Celebrating 2015 Chinese New Year
Happy New Year to all our Chinese friends.
Since I just posted a short article about British Stamps used in China which coincided well with the Chinese New Year on 19th February, I thought I write more about the subject.
2015 is the year of Goat/Sheep and the 4712th Chinese year. The Chinese believe the Yellow King, although not the first Emperor, was the first king of China, crowned in 2697 B.C. This the start of Chinese New Year and hence on 19th February 2015, China entered the 4712th year. Goat is the 8th animal in the Chinese Zodiac. There are 12 animals in Zodiac in the following order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Goat/Sheep symbolises calmness and gentleness. People born in the year of Goat (2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967 …) are believed to be sympathetic, friendly, well mannered and kind.
As expected many countries have issued stamps and sheets to celebrate this occasion. I have already received my Royal Mail Lunar New Year - Year of the Sheep Souvenir Sheet.
This is a limited edition sheet which is the 4th one in this design series from Royal Mail which started in 2012 celebrating the Year of the Dragon, followed by Year of Snake in 2013 and Year of Horse in 2014. This sheet features:
- 20 First Class stamps demonstrating the New Year celebrations in 5 cities: Belfast, Cambridge, Sheffield, Cardiff and Edinburgh
- a set of symbolic and artistic design and images of elemental sheep types depicting metal, earth, fire, wood and water
- all on a red background with artistic images of sheep / goats around the sheet, which in Chinese culture symbolise good fortune
- other images include Chinese lanterns, textiles, firecrackers, temple roof and tangerines
Some of my other related stamp favourites issued around the world
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| “FOREVER” souvenir sheet of US Postal Services |
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Australia celebrating the Year of Goat with the issue of 2 stamps: 70c and $2.10 from the Christmas Island |
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| Slovenian post issued this stamp end of January 2015. The chinese character used signifies goat |
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Gibraltar have issued two stamps: 50p and £1 which have been in circulation since the end of January 2015 |
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| These stamps are already in circulation by SingPost. Their design is based on concept of "roundness" depicting good fortune and wealth. Each set of the stamps are issues in 3 values: 1st Class, $0.70 and $1.30 |
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One of my favourites, this stamp has been in circulation since 19th February 2015 by Estonia Post, depicting the wooden sheep |
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This stamp was issued by China Post and was in circulation in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, on the 5th of January. Guangzhou is the third largest city in Southern China, which is also known as Canton.
This stamp caught my eye, not only for its beautiful and colourful design but also for the fact that Guangzhou is historically known as the city of the goat, which is the perfect city for the release of the goat-themed stamps. |
Published on 02 March 2015 | By Vartan |
