| Starting 1991, Philpost
has issued a set of stamps for every Chinese New Year, featuring the animal
associated with the coming lunar new year. The first set of 2 stamps was
issued in December of 1991 to usher in the year of the Monkey, which starts
on February 4, 1992. From 1992 to 2003, a set of 2 stamps and 2 souvenir
sheets (one perforated and the other imperforate) were issued.
Since a complete cycle has
been issued already (each with 2 stamps and 2 souvenir sheets), it is just
appropriate for Philpost to issue a collective sheet featuring all the
12 animals in a complete Lunar New Year Cycle. The 2 special souvenir sheets
have adjoining labels listing the dates that each Lunar New Year begins
and ends in the Western calendar. These 2 souvenir sheets each has total
face values of P36 but they are being sold at P75 each. The premium is
earmarked for the Philpost Philatelic Reserve Fund (PPRF), which will be
used for the development and promotion of Philippine Philately.
The origin of the 12 animal
signs is not very clear. But most legends credit Buddha (circa 563 - 483
B.C.) with the creation of the 12 animal cycle. Supposedly, he invited
all the animals in jungle to visit him, but for some reason, only 12 animals
showed up. 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, cock, 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. |
