In 2019 Chinese New Year will be celebrated on 5 February, bringing in the Year of the Pig, according to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. New Zealand Post has created a special stamp issue consisting of four bright festive items that feature the common symbols of the Year of the Pig and traditional Chinese arts. There is also a range of gold-foiled products available as well as a gold-plated medallion. The stamps with these products make a perfect gift for celebrating the Chinese New Year.
$1.20 stamp features calligraphy art - a unique art form that for centuries has been a key part of Chinese culture, traditions and everyday life. Today, calligraphy plays an essential role in Chinese New Year celebrations, and this year they feature in the design of the $1.20 Year of the Pig stamp.
The stamp with the face value of $2.40 is devoted to the art of paper-cutting. This is a very old Chinese folk-art. Paper-cut animals of the Chinese zodiac are popular features at Chinese New Year. They are used for decoration and as gifts for family and friends visiting from afar.
$3.00 stamp shows the rare Arapawa pig that is believed to be introduced to New Zealand by Captain James Cook. This stamp connects New Zealand to China and Chinese New Year with an Arapawa pig depicted in line art.
The stamp with the face value of $3.60 features State Highway 85 that is also known as the ‘Pig Route’. One of the popular stories behind the name dates back to the goldrush of the 1880s when, it’s said, wild pigs would approach the miners’ horses and rub noses with them. Today, the highway is the main route from Alexandra to Central Otago.
See also other Chinese New Year stamp issues.
