The Year of the Ox, a 2009 souvenir sheet of 1 stamp from Canada.

 

Canada Post is issuing this souvenir sheet to celebrate what is widely credited as the oldest surviving calendar system in the world. In 2009, we honor the Year of the Ox: a time of stability, harmony and balance. This issue is the first release in a new 12-year Lunar New Year series.

This stamp was inspired by long traditions of Chinese art and Lunar New Year decor. The spark that surrounds the Chinese character for “Ox” in the top-left corner of the international stamp evokes fireworks. Gold foil is applied to the spark, while clear foil and multi-level embossing techniques add shine and dimension to the pottery vase. Even the long, scroll-like shape of the new souvenir sheet—a format that will remain standard throughout the series—is rooted in Chinese tradition, as decorative scrolls are widely believed to have their origin in China. The Chinese characters that run vertically down the souvenir sheet list all 12 animals of the zodiac, fading from one year to the next as they appear in the lunar cycle— a feature that reinforces the scroll concept.

With its insightful blend of time-honored customs and modern flair, this issue is a fitting tribute to an ancient tradition that is well-known and celebrated around the world today—not to mention an excellent kick-off to a new 12-year stamp cycle.