Lunar New Year is the most important of the traditional festivals celebrated by Asian cultures throughout the world. The Year of the Ox (known as the Xin-Chou Year in China) begins on 12 February 2021. In Chinese culture, the Ox is a symbol of strength, hard work, diligence and selflessness. The Chinese people developed folk customs of worshipping clay oxen to dispel the cold in late winter and improve their harvests.
Out now, available for pre-order, is an Australia-China Joint Issue Year of the Ox stamp pack. This attractive pack contains three sheetlets: two sheetlets of 16 Year of the Ox 2021 stamps, released by China, as well as the Zodiac sheetlet from the Year of the Ox 2021 stamp issue, released by Australia Post on 8 January 2021.
The Chinese stamps were designed by Yao Zhonghua, who also created Year of the Ox stamps for China in 1985. The first stamp, titled “Invigorating the Nation through Hard Work”, portrays a robust Ox galloping forward with indomitable will. The second stamp, titled “Happy Year of the Ox”, depicts a cow feeding her calf, to symbolise family harmony, happiness and reunion.
The Australia Post stamps and sheetlet are by award-winning illustrator Chrissy Lau. The sheetlet is based on the traditional lucky colours of gold and red and contains three Ox stamps, together with a set of 12 stamps below, one for each of the animals of the Chinese zodiac. The Ox stamps feature three different views of an Ox, each decorated with Chinese symbols of good luck and longevity as well as Feng Shui ornaments that are said to attract wealth and good fortune. The sheetlet is adorned with various symbols of the Lunar New Year, including lanterns, ingots and lucky red envelopes.
The Australia-China Joint Issue Year of the Ox stamp pack is available for pre-order now, online.
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This content was produced at the time of the stamp issue release date and will not be updated.
