USA Year of Rat FDC

USA FDC
Name: Year of the Rat
Issue date: 2008 January 9th

Millions of people around the world will celebrate the Year of the Rat beginning February 7, 2008. The rat is the first of twelve animals associated with the Chinese lunar calendar. People born in the Year of the Rat are said to be industrious, adaptable, and ambitious. The Year of the Rat ends on January 25, 2009.

The Lunar New Year is celebrated primarily by people of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tibetan, and Mongolian heritage in many parts of the world. In the United States as elsewhere, the occasion is marked in various ways across many cultures. Parades, parties, and other special events are common. Festive lanterns—in red for luck—are common decorations at such celebrations, where they are frequently hung in rows.

The stamp design incorporates elements from the previous series of Lunar New Year stamps, including an intricate paper–cut design of a rat and the Chinese character—drawn in grass–style calligraphy—for "Rat".

2008 China Year of the Rat Stamp Minisheet Booklet
2008 Hong Kong Year of the Rat FDC Minisheet FDC Imperf. S/S FDC
2008 Indonesia Year of the Rat FDC S/S FDC
2008 Japan Year of the Rat Lottery S/S FDC
2008 Singapore Year of the Rat FDC Minisheet FDC
2008 Taiwan Year of the Rat FDCs Pre-stamped Postcards
2008 Thailand Year of the Rat FDC Minisheet FDC
2008 USA Year of the Rat FDC
2008 Vietnam Year of the Rat FDC