Lunar New Year : Year of the Tiger 2022
The Third Stamp in the Lunar New Year Series
Celebrating the Year of the Tiger
This stamp marks the third issue in the Lunar New Year series that began in 2020, honoring the Year of the Tiger. The design continues the series' tradition, featuring a mask that echoes the style of those seen in previous stamps. The intricate details of the design are accentuated by foil stamping, adding depth and a three-dimensional effect.
Purpose of the Stamp
The stamp was issued to commemorate the fourth animal in the Chinese Zodiac and to celebrate the start of the Year of the Tiger in the Lunar New Year calendar. It is the third installment in the series, following the rat and ox stamps.
Design Insights
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has noted that the designs in this series are inspired by the ornate masks used in dragon and lion dances, which are common in Lunar New Year parades. Artist Camille Chew crafted the Year of the Tiger mask, drawing on traditional paper-cut folk art techniques typically used in Lunar New Year decorations. The stamp sheet also features illustrations of all 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac along the sides.
Special Features
Foil stamping is used to highlight the design??s details, giving the mask an almost three-dimensional quality. This special feature makes the stamp visually striking and unique.
First Day of Issue
The Year of the Tiger stamp for 2022 was first issued in New York City, with a ceremony at the Peter Norton Symphony Space to mark the occasion.
About the Lunar New Year Series
The USPS has a long history of issuing Lunar New Year stamps. When the previous series concluded in 2019, a new series began the following year. This new series features stamps depicting paper-cut masks of the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac, following the traditional cycle: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat/ram/sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Each stamp showcases a high-quality photograph of a three-dimensional paper-cut mask designed by Camille Chew.
Historical and Cultural Significance
In the Chinese zodiac, the tiger is the third animal in the 12-year cycle, and the Year of the Tiger began on February 1, 2022. In Chinese culture, the tiger is regarded as the king of beasts, symbolizing power, fearlessness, energy, royalty, protection, generosity, illumination, and unpredictability. The tiger is also seen as a symbol of luck and is associated with the Sun, summer, and fire.
Tigers are believed to protect against household disasters such as fire and burglary and to ward off ghosts. Temples often feature tiger imagery for protection, and soldiers historically painted tigers on their shields to intimidate enemies. Tigers are prevalent in Chinese folklore and literature, representing various virtues and powers.
Different-colored tigers are associated with the seasons: white for fall, black for winter, blue for spring, and red for summer, with a yellow tiger representing the Sun and ruling over the others. The tiger's multifaceted significance in Chinese culture is truly remarkable.
