Lunar New Year Series: Year of the Rabbit Forever Stamp 2023
The fourth stamp in the Lunar New Year series, initiated in 2020, celebrates the Year of the Rabbit with a stunning design that continues the tradition of intricate mask imagery.
Purpose of Issue:
This stamp commemorates the fourth animal in the Chinese Zodiac, the rabbit, and is the latest addition to the Lunar New Year series.
Design Details:
The stamp features a mask designed by artist Camille Chew, inspired by the elaborately decorated masks used in dragon or lion dances commonly seen during Lunar New Year parades. Chew adapted traditional paper-cut folk-art techniques to create the Year of the Rabbit mask. The stamp sheet also includes illustrations of all 12 Chinese zodiac animals in columns along the left and right sides. Foil stamping highlights intricate details, giving the design a nearly three-dimensional appearance.
First Day City:
The Year of the Rabbit stamp was unveiled in San Francisco, California, at the Asian Art Museum. This location was chosen to honor the cultural heritage of Lunar New Year and the paper-cut folk-art tradition used in the stamp design. The ceremony featured notable attendees such as San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed, USPS Board of Governors member Derek Kan, California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, and Asian Art Museum Director Jay Xu.
About the Lunar New Year Series:
The USPS has a longstanding tradition of issuing Lunar New Year stamps. After the previous series concluded in 2019, a new series began in 2020. This series features paper-cut mask designs representing the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac, including the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Each stamp showcases a high-quality photograph of a three-dimensional paper-cut mask by Camille Chew.
Historical Significance:
In the Chinese Zodiac, the rabbit is the fourth animal in the 12-year cycle, with the Year of the Rabbit beginning on January 22, 2023. According to Chinese mythology, the rabbit was the fastest but also the most arrogant of the animals. He underestimated his competitors and lost the lead by taking a nap, a story reminiscent of the Western fable "The Tortoise and the Hare."
People born in the Year of the Rabbit are said to be hardworking, ambitious, kind, and artistic. They often excel in creative fields such as art, music, architecture, and literature. The Chinese Zodiac provides fascinating insights into personality traits and potential career paths based on the year of one's birth.
This stamp is a beautiful and culturally significant addition to the USPS Lunar New Year series, celebrating the artistry and traditions of the Chinese Zodiac.
