2018-12-22 Sat

On 11th January, the UNPA is going to release a special Year of the Pig personalized pane to celebrate the Chinese New Year. This release would the 10th one in UNPA’s Chinese Lunar Calendar series. 10 $1.15 international-rate stamps are included in the pane. They can be used from the U.N. headquarters Post Office in New York City. Each stamp features a blue-coloured U.N. emblem against a white background. The upper right corner of the note depicts the year date “2019”.

Two symbolic pigs in golden and red colours are shown on the adjoining labels. Floral and geometric elements are used to decorate the pigs like a Chinese paper-cutting. The selvage also depicts the same pigs with calligraphy, the U.N. emblem, the text “Chinese Lunar Calendar” and “Celebrating the Year of the Pig 2019,” all in gold. Name of the illustrator Wu Shining is featured on the lower right corner of the pane.

The Year of the Pig starts on 5th February 2019 and ends on 4th January 2020. It’s the last animal of the 12-year lunar cycle. It is believed that the Pig came in last when the Jade Emperor called everyone for a meeting. Other legends state that it was Buddha who called everyone for the meeting just before leaving the earth. According to Chinese culture, people who are born in the year of Pig are kind and fun loving. They work towards their goals with determination and can be very reliable friends.

Image Courtesy: The UNPA