The Year of the Ox is the subject of Jersey Post’s first stamp issue of 2021. This great festive item was illustrated by Wang Huming in Beijing, China. The design is based on a Chinese style of painting and paper cutting and depicts the symbol of the upcoming – a golden ox. Besides, the stamp features a gold metallic ink and varnish.
Also known as the Spring Festival, the Lunar New Year is the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. It is celebrated by Chinese and ethnic communities around the world and is a time when families come together. The Chinese animal zodiac is a repeating cycle of twelve years; each of the twelve years is represented by an animal and 2021 is the Year of the Ox.
In Chinese culture, the ox is considered to be a symbol of kindness, reliability and hard work. People born in the year of the ox are said to be reliable, trustworthy and patient. They can also be stubborn. The image featured on a stamp symbolizes prosperity. The golden bull, with its head raised upwards, represents a longing for a prosperous future, while its hoof, tightly buckled downwards, indicates a down to earth attitude. In the background of the stamp, on the upper right corner, is the Chinese character for ox; the strokes of the character look like the horns of an ox.
See also other Lunar New Year stamps.
