Chinese Lunar New Year Cycle  
             
   
             
   

A stamp sheetlet, issued by Hong Kong Post on 21 February 1999, comprising a complete set of the twelve Animals of the Lunar New Year Cycle. The embroidered patterns are illustrated below

The stamps are reproduced from the second Lunar New Year special stamp series which started with the Year of the Rabbit in 1987 and ended with the Year of the Tiger in 1998.Embroidery has been a popular pastime in China for many centuries. Embroidery adorns clothing, bedding and furniture, giving an ambience of prosperity and happiness. For this reason many embroidered items are created for festival and ritual use, especially during New Year celebrations. 

 
             
 



YEAR OF THE RAT People born under the sign are renowned for their charm. Although easily angered, they appear to be cool, calm and completely under control. Their ability to hide anger and discontent is a valuable asset. Rat people have a great deal of ambition and integrity, and unbelievable persistence. Naturally thrifty, they have the ability to save money (and can be stingy too). Rat people are, alas, inclined to be fussy about petty things. Love brings out their generosity. They must guard against loving someone who does not love them back, and, in their eagerness to impress and spend everything they've managed to save. They like to live well and are good to themselves. Since rat people adore gossip, their friends are sometimes of short duration.
   

YEAR OF THE OX Ox people, like their animal sign, are placid and easygoing. They have the rare gift of inspiring others, and this self-assuredness can help them become successful. They are extraordinarily good with their hands. Naturally quite, ox people can be eloquent if required to speak in public. In family relationships they are often misunderstood because of their cool attitudes and unemotional responses. Surprisingly, they do anger easily and can be petty and mean.
   

YEAR OF THE TIGER Those born in the tiger years are powerful, courageous, and deep thinkers. Orientals believe that boys born under this sign may be destined to be become rulers. Tiger people show a great deal of sympathy for those they love. Although exceptionally competent, they are often given more credit than they deserve for their achievements. A tiger person can be stubborn and selfish - even mean. Decisions baffle them. Many times they wait too long to make one. Narrow-minded by nature, it is difficult for tiger people to trust others. They are highly respected, and yet they tend to resent their elders and anyone in authority. The Orientals say that everyone must guard against disaster in life, fire, thieves, and ghosts. It is widely believed that the tiger is capable of protecting you against all three, and so tiger people are usually free of these threats.
   

YEAR OF THE RABBIT Humans born under the sign of the rabbit are gifted, ambitious and smooth talkers. Other people respect and trust them, and they are renowned for their good taste. Rabbit people enjoy light gossip, but if it gets vicious will refuse to participate. Rabbit people can endure a great deal of imitation before loosing their tempers. In business they are cleaver; they firmly believe that "a promise is a promise" and their word is a contract. Although rabbit people can be affectionate, they have a rather detached attitude in family relationships. Weeping for no apparent reason is one of their weaknesses. They are often melancholy. In some areas rabbit people remain uninformed, probably because they are not seekers of knowledge. They are lucky financially, with an uncanny sense for picking a winner - this makes them good gamblers. However, in money matters, they usually think things over carefully.
   

YEAR OF THE DRAGON Dragon people are given the gifts of health, energy, courage, and sensitivity. They speak sincerely and are honest. When a boy is born in the Year of the Dragon, Orientals consider this a stroke of fortune. Dragons like tigers, they are believed to have the potential to be rulers. The dragon represents the greatest celestial power and, along with the tiger, has the most beneficial influence in an astrological sense. Symbolising life and growth, the dragon is said to have these four blessings; virtue, riches, harmony and longevity. Of all the signs, this one is the most eccentric. Dragon people are wonderful workers, but at times display a willingness to work for evil purposes rather than good. Surprise! Dragons are susceptible to flattery. Quick-tempered, excitable and enormously stubborn, they often bypass marriage only to face loneliness in their old age.
   

YEAR OF THE SNAKE People born in the snake year are endowed with tremendous wisdom. Profound thinkers, they prefer to rely on their own intellect rather than trust the judgement of others. Fired with intense determination, they hate to fail at anything. Snake persons are determined to achieve their goals. They seldom have to worry about money - they're usually rich! Yet they can be stingy, and hate to make loans. Snake men are handsome, snake women are beautiful, and both are often vain. They are sometimes tempted into extramarital affairs with the result that they have unhappy marriages. Snake men and women have an annoying habit of overdoing whatever they do, including helping others.
   

YEAR OF THE HORSE Horse people are popular, cheerful and love to compliment others. They act quickly and have short tempers. Although they seem strong and inspire confidence, deep inside they are weak particularly around members of the opposite sex. "Love is blind" must have been written for horse people. When in love, they can shut out everything else, which can cause them to fail at their work. They are passionate in love but can be maddeningly indifferent about other causes. People born under this sign like large crowds and entertainment. Because of their independent nature, they refuse to listen to advise. They are usually good money managers.
   

YEAR OF THE SHEEP Those born in this animal year are true artists. They are happy and contented when doing something creative. These people are pessimistic, puzzled about life and seem to lack a sense of direction. Sheep people are followers (naturally), not leaders. They need to be guided because of their basic insecurity. However, despite their shyness and timidity, sheep people usually manage to eat well, wear nice clothes and live comfortably. They have elegant tastes, a passionate nature, wisdom, and an inborn gentleness, demonstrating these traits not only with loved ones but also in the causes they believe in. Their concern for the underdog often has them lending someone unfortunate a helping hand. However, they prefer to keep their philanthropies anonymous.
   

YEAR OF THE MONKEY Persons born under this sign are usually successful in any field they choose, good at making deals, and skilful in business diplomacy. Decisions are easy; they have plenty of common sense. Monkey people read extensively, remember everything they read, and consequently are unusually well informed. If a monkey person is allowed to pursue his own instinctive course in life, he stands a good chance of becoming famous. However, monkeys tend to talk too much, driving friends away with their overlong explanations and endless chatter. They are sometimes contemptuous of people less gifted than they. Their inclination to appease rather than fight is a predominant characteristic.
   

YEAR OF THE CHICKEN Chicken year people are busybodies and deep thinkers. Devoted to their work, they habitually undertake challenges beyond their capabilities and are disappointed when they don't succeed. They are eccentric, which makes people watch them with interest. Chicken people are positive they are always right, and are certain they know what they are doing at all times! Since they do not trust others, they prefer to work alone. Although they display an adventuresome exterior, their interior makeup is unsuited to high adventure. As a result they dwell on foolish plans that never mature. Chicken people need more foresight, and due to their basic recklessness and erratic nature, they seesaw between problems - they speak our directly when they have something to say. They have the reputation of being interesting, but their candour causes them to loose friends. Inclined to be selfish, chicken people forget to consider others.
   

YEAR OF THE DOG Those born in the Year of the Dog are blessed with most of the finer traits of human nature. Like the dog, they are loyal and possess a profound sense of duty. Since they try to do their best, they make wonderful workers. People born in this sign can be counted upon to keep a secret. Others hold for the most part dog people in high regard. Yet they too can be selfish, eccentric, obstinate. They fail miserably at social affairs because of their coldness and aloofness. Detesting small talk, they refuse to indulge in it. Their worst flaws are faultfinding and sarcasm. Dog people are renowned for championing good causes, as they cannot stand injustice.
   

YEAR OF THE PIG Pig-people are brave and chivalrous. They have tremendous inner strength and superb follow-through on whatever they undertake. The Japanese claim Pig-people are "broad in front with a narrow back" meaning they are well informed on the surface but upon further investigation, reveal rather limited knowledge. Pig-people treat their loved ones with great kindness. Though they have few friends, the ones they keep are the lifelong variety. They are shy and prefer to solve all their problems alone rather than seek help.