USA FDC
Name: Year of the Ox
Date of Issue: 08 January 2009
Art director Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, MD, worked on the new series with Mak, who now lives in Brooklyn. They focused on some of the common ways the Lunar New Year Holiday is celebrated. To commemorate the Year of the Ox (Jan. 26, 2009 - Feb. 13, 2010), they chose a lion head of a type often worn at parades and other festivities. Dancers wear such heads, often made of papier-mâché and bamboo, as they perform for delighted crowds. Kam's 16" x 9.5" stamp illustration was originally created using oil paints on a fiberboard panel.
"The lion dance painting on the Year of the Ox stamp took me two and a half months to create," Mak explained. "I chose the lion dance because it is an important tradition that dates to the Han Dynasty in welcoming the new year. As a child growing up, the lion dance was always and still is the most anticipated event for me. I always have a preference for the green and black lion created in the style of the Fut San region of southern China. It was a joy painting the lion with all the intricate pattern and details on its head. I also chose to have the lion leaping off the stamp to signify it as ferocious and brave-hearted - two personality traits characteristic to this lion. I hope the Year of the Ox stamp will scare away evil spirits and bring everyone good luck for the New Year."
Comment: I should thank my US friend who helps me to continue the Lunar New Year self-painting FDC series. He has made it for me since the Year of the Rat (2008).
2009 Year of the Ox
Canada FDC
China Stamp, Sheetlet II, Booklet.
Hong Kong Stamps FDC, Minisheet FDC, Souvenir Sheet FDC, Pre-stamped Postcard.
Indonesia Stamps FDC, Souvenir Sheet FDC.
Singapore Stamps FDC, Souvenir Sheet FDC.
Taiwan Stamps FDCs, Souvenir Sheet FDCs, Pre-stamped Postcards.
USA FDC
Monday, February 2, 2009
USA Year of the Ox FDC
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USA
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2 comments:
Hello My dear;
i don't like the cover but i like the set of stamps
do you know, that till now i don't understand what you mean by self-made ?
waiting your soonest replay
ciao
Chinese New Year for 2009 is on the 26th of January: the Year of the Yin Earth Ox.
In Chinese Astrology each sign is represented by an animal. There are 12 animal signs in total, each corresponding to a lunar year, with each sign also having 5 elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal & Water). In certain years, particular elements are more prominent. For instance in 2005, the ‘wood’ element is very prominent so therefore it is 2005, Year of the Wood Rooster. The special combination of the Sign and Element only occurs once every 60 years.
As Chinese Astrology is one of the oldest types of Astrology, the origins of naming the years after animals is unknown. But a popular legend is that Buddha (c.563-c.483 B.C) invited all the animals to visit him, and as a demonstration of thanks to those who came, he dedicated a year to each of the animals according to the order in which they arrived: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
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