FREE: 12 ANIMALS OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR CYCLE STAMP SHEET

The listing, 12 ANIMALS OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR CYCLE STAMP SHEET has ended.

Original mint, not hinged stamp.


Date of issue: 9 September 2004
Printed by: Amstar Company Inc.
Perf. 14
Se-tenant sheets of 12 + 3 labels
Designer: David U. Dujunco


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The origin of the twelve animal signs is not very clear. But most legends credit Buddha (circa 563 - 483 B.C.) with the creation of the twelve animal cycle. Supposedly, he invited all the animals in jungle to visit him, but for some reason, only twelve came. To thank them, Buddha gave each animal a year which would be dedicated to that animal alone. The years were allocated in the order in which the animals arrived. The 12 animals appeared in this order: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

The cycle of the animals repeats itself every 12 years.

The Chinese calendar is based on the lunar year (orbits of the moon around the Earth). The Western calendar is based on the solar year (orbits of the Earth around the Sun). The two do not correspond exactly. Each Lunar New Year, therefore, begins on a slightly different date of the Solar Year.