Chinese New Year – Year of the Ox

A stamp series dedicated to the Chinese New Year has been published since 2011. The stamp soon to be released is the eleventh stamp in the series and is dedicated to the year of the Ox, which starts on 12 February. Chinese astrology includes twelve animal signs; the ox is the second one. According to one legend, the mystical Jade Emperor organised a race between 12 animals from one end of the Heavenly Sea to the other. The ox moved determinedly towards the finish line ahead of others, but the clever rat who rode on the ox’s back jumped off just before the finish line and so the ox came in second. In Chinese culture, the ox is a symbol of hard work, perseverance and honesty.