People across the United States and the world will celebrate the Lunar New Year, which starts on January 25. In the U.S., the holiday also is being honored with a new postage stamp.
2020 is the Year of the Rat, the first of 12 signs in the Chinese zodiac. People born in the Year of the Rat are said to be intelligent, social and resourceful.
New year, new stamp
The U.S. Postal Service has been releasing Lunar New Year stamps since 1992, when it began a 12-year series featuring each of the animals associated with the lunar calendar.
This year’s stamp is predominantly blue, as blue is considered a lucky color for people born in the Year of the Rat.
Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with original artwork by Camille Chew.
“For more than 100 years, we have issued stamps that celebrate the cultures of people who have come from around the world, reflecting the rich and multi-faceted heritage of America,” said Luke Grossmann, the U.S. Postal Service’s senior vice president for finance and strategy. “Ours is truly a world culture, and our stamps allow us to weave together the unique threads of our national tapestry.”
