First stamps for 2016 to celebrate Chinese year of the monkey

Thursday 31 December 2015

Jersey’s latest series of stamps celebrates the year of the monkey, with designs by China’s most famous stamp artist.

The rich, red and gold illustrations by Wang Huming, were designed in Beijing, and printed in France.

Wang Huming is the Deputy Chief Designer of the Postage Stamp Printing Bureau of China Post and is in charge of the Editorial and Designing department.

Melanie Gouzinis, Head of Philatelic at Jersey Post, said: “The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival, is the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar and is celebrated by Chinese and ethnic communities around the world.

“The Chinese animal zodiac is a repeating cycle of twelve years. Each of the twelve years is represented by an animal and 2016 is the year of the monkey.”

Chinese zodiac animals have symbolic meanings given to them by the ancient Chinese, and people born in each animal’s year are said to have some of that animal’s personality. Those born in the year of the monkey are said to be smart, quick-witted, optimistic and ambitious.

Mrs Gouzinis said: “The design Wang Huming has created for our Lunar New Year issue shows the monkey holding a peach and uses gold colours against a red background. Whilst the peach is a symbol of long life in Chinese culture, red is considered the luckiest colour and is widely used during festivals.

“We are very fortunate to have worked together with such a high-profile artist as Wang Huming on this stamp issue as well as our Links with China issue released earlier this year.”

Chinese New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest. The lantern festival is held on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month and marks the end of the Chinese New Year.

The stamps will be available to buy from all branches of Jersey Post from Tuesday 5 January.