Week 1 - Lunar New Year Celebration!

[Crystal Hsia]

Happy Year Of The Rabbit! 祝您兔年愉快！

Wherever you may be, we wish you and those close to you the very best Year of the Rabbit. Before the start of our seminar, we would like you to take a moment to tell us which of these stamps is your favorite.

China | Hong Kong | Macau | Taiwan | United States | Aland | Armenia | Australia | Belarus | Cambodia | Canada | Cuba | Estonia | France | French Polynesia | Grenada | Guernsey | Guinea-Bissau | Guyana | Hungary | Isle of Man | Jersey | Liechtenstein | New Zealand | Philippines | South Korea | Thailand | Ukraine | United Nations | Vietnam

China's 2023 rabbit year stamps were created by 99-year-old Huáng Yǒngyù 黃永玉, who also created the People's Republic's first such stamp, for the year of the monkey (1980). Already well-known in the 1960s, Huang suffered during the Cultural Revolution. He was targeted for both his writing and his art. He later wrote, “We have to admit that the Cultural Revolution was a very interesting drama. Unfortunately, the price of the ticket was too expensive. So much time, so many lives, blood, and tears” (translation by David Cheng Chang, 2012). Huang has remained a prolific writer and artist. In 2022, his illustrations and poetry were celebrated in a Beijing exhibition. Chinese state television broadcast a couple of stories about him, including him reading one of his poems and being interviewed (1 | 2).

China
Artist: Huáng Yǒngyù 黃永玉

2011

1999

1987

 

Hong Kong

2011

1999

1987

1975

 

Macau

2011

1987

 

Taiwan (Republic of China)

2011

1999

1987

1975

United States
Artist: Camille Chew; Art director: Antonio Alcalá

2011
Artists: Kam Mak, Clarence Lee (paper cut), Lau Bun (calligraphy), Art director: Ethel Kessler

1999

Åland

Armenia

 

Australia
Designed by Chrissy Lau

2011

1999

Belarus

Cambodia

1999

Canada
2011
Artist: Tracy Walker, Design: HM&E

1999
Artist: Ken Koo, Design: Ken Fung

Cuba
2011
 

1999

 

Estonia

 

France
Artist: Chén Jiānghóng 陈江洪
Born in Tianjin, Chen has lived in France since 1988 and is well-known for his children's books and abstract paintings.

2011
Artist: Li Zhongyao

French Polynesia

 

Grenada

Guernsey

 

Guinea-Bissau
2011

Guyana

Hungary

 

Isle of Man
Artist: Stanley Chow

Japan

2011

1999

1987

1963

1951

Jersey

1999

Laos
1975

Liechtenstein

New Zealand

2011

1999

 

Philippines

 

2011

South Korea (Republic of Korea)

2011

1975

Thailand

2011

1999

Ukraine
2011

United Nations

 

Vietnam
Vietnam's twelve animal cycle varies slightly from that found elsewhere in East and Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, this is the year of the cat, rather than the year of the rabbit. In Australia, some communities have incorporated cats (e.g., giant inflatables, Hello Kitty and more) into this year's celebration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011

1999

 

Want more lunar new year stamps?
2022: Year of the Tiger
2021: Year of the Ox
2020: Year of the Rat
2019: Year of the Pig
2018: Year of the Dog
2017: Year of the Rooster
2016: Year of the Monkey
2015: Year of the Ram/Goat/Sheep
2014: Year of the Horse
2013: Year of the Snake
2012: Year of the Dragon
2011: Year of the Rabbit
2010: Year of the Tiger
2009: Year of the Ox

 identify which of the lunar New Year stamps they like the most. 

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[Courtney Caldwell]

While a lot of these stand out to me, I think my favorites are the Armenian stamp as I really enjoy the pattern on it. But also the French Polynesia stamp - I love the lotus on it.

Happy Lunar New Year, all! 

[Jerrica Keane]

I really like the stamps from the Philippines and how colourful they are. I also liked the Canadian stamps for the same reason (although some bias might be shining through as I am from Canada 😀 )  - - - Happy Lunar New Year!

[Kirstjen Pollock]

I can't really choose a favorite, but I was really surprised to learn that in Vietnam, it is the Year of the Cat! I have often visited Vietnam at this time of year and always thought China and Vietnam shared folklore, calendar, and astrology. What a surprise to see that they have a different animal this year!

[clay dube]

Hi everyone! Thanks to all who have weighed in on the stamps. I hope others will as well. There is quite a variety. Rabbits are a favorite subject on stamps. I only included those focused on the lunar new year. Why do some countries produce these stamps and others do not? Why did Canada previously create these stamps, but then stop doing so?

How might one use stamps to launch discussions in your classes? Could your studnets create stamp designs to teach about particular themes, people or places in China's history of the world? What would they need to consider?

Would students like to check out stamps for their "animals"? Do you have a favorite stamp for your animal?

[Indira Engel]

I like the Liechtenstein stamp for its color choice and design. I also liked the China 2011 design for the same reason. A few years ago I joined a website for postcard exchange that allowed me to connect with over 8 people from different parts of the world. I showed the postcards to my students and encouraged them to look up the places in our world map. The stamps were very different and fascinating to look at. I believe they convey culture in a simple, yet poignant way, stimulating the mind to wonder and seek more information. 

[Liyan Wang]

I love the cat stamp cards in Viet Nam. As a native Chinese, I enjoy learning new traditions about Lunar New Year every year. Last week, my colleague told us year of Rabbit is Cat in Viet Nam. Her version was due to the mistake in translation. In the classroom, this leads to discussion of "right or wrong";  how culture influence each other over time, etc. Conclusion: while be knowledgable, stay open-minded.

[Krystal Rodriguez]

I really am drawn to the Canadian stamps of 2011. I love the focus of the rabbit, the circular image of two rabbits on one stamp, and the incorporation of the vibrant colors of red and white. I feel that it focuses your attention and draws your eyes to the rabbit. Honestly, though all of the stamps are vivid, colorful, and I love comparing the diffferences between each one amongst the different countries.

[Abigail Jackson]

I really like the Australia 1999 stamps. The colors are very bold, and I wonder where Christmas Island is located. The swirls in the rabbit make me think of a wave in an ocean. The mortar and pestle on the right side also interest me. I wonder why the black swirls on the left show.

[Elizabeth Quintero]

I really enjoy the 1987 Hong Kong stamps. I do not have a favorite color because there are so many colors I love. Burgundy is one of the colors I like the most so the burgundy colored stamp with the light yellow rabbit caught my eye. These two colors also seem to be the USC colors. Regarding the questions above, I would assume that the countries that produced these stamps in the past and are no longer doing so, like Canada could be because these countries might be dealing with increased political tensions. However, I'm sure there may be other reasons. I think having students create stamp desins is a wonderful idea. I teach high school world history and I talk about China when we cover Imperialism, World War II and the Cold War. I'm thinking of how an assignment on stamps can tie into these units. 

[Jenai Sheffels]

I love China's 2011 rabbit.  The intricate pattern but simplicity of the figure just does it for me.  I like the idea of having students create their own animal stamps based on their birth year.  It would be a great way to have them tie in personal symbols about themselves.  I think you could do some of the same ideas using symbols with history units, too.

 

[clay dube]

Indira, I love what you set up with your students. In this age of digital communication, stamps are definitely a throwback. That said, there is something quite different about reading something on paper and what it means to send someone something on paper. I hope that you might talk with your students about this. How many of their parents still have cards they crafted for them in earlier grades. Again, what is it about the earlier technology that causes someone to treat the messages conveyed differently?

[Bridget Ruiz-Acevedo]

My favorite set of stamps are the Hong Kong stamps. They are very colorful and that is what appealed to me the most. I see some similarites between the art of the Hong Kong stamp and papel picado from Mexico in the sense that the colors pop.That is what definitely appealed to me. I also notcied that the rabbit on each stamp has different versions and beautiful flowers on each design. Love them! 

[Gurpreet Gill]

All of these stamps are beautiful and unique in their own way! The bright colors of the Estonia stamp stood out to me. I like the contrast of the bright colors with the black in the design, it reminds me of scratch art. I really like the idea of students exploring these different stamps, and then creating a stamp of their own based on their year and animal.

 

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