Select a region
While many islanders welcomed the arrival of the new year over the weekend with a party – for Jersey's Chinese community, the main event will actually be in February.
That's because it marks the start of the Lunar New Year – and this year, it's the Year of the Dragon...
Also known as China's Spring Festival, the Lunar New Year is one of the biggest celebrated points of the Chinese calendar.
Chinese New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the lunar month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest.
Pictured: Special celebrations were held in the Central Market last year.
In 2024, the first day of the Lunar New Year falls on Saturday 10th February.
Observed predominantly by Chinese and ethnic communities worldwide, it is an important time for communities and families to get together.
Pictured: The image on the £1.65 stamp sheet for the Lunar New Year – Year of the Dragon features a gold dragon, with a sharp red background. Golden dragons have been associated with powerful deities and harvest in Chinese culture.
The cycle is repeated every twelve years with an animal from the Chinese zodiac representing the yearly cycle, and 2024 is the Year of the Dragon.
As the fifth animal in the Chinese zodiac, the dragon is the only zodiac animal which is a mythical creature, and is usually used as a symbol of power in China.
Dragons are also seen as a symbol of good fortune, and those born within the year are considered naturally lucky and gifted.
Jersey Post is celebrating the Lunar New Year in its first stamp issue of 2024.
A stamp and miniature sheet commemorating the Year of the Dragon will be available to purchase from all branches of Jersey Post on 4 January.
Illustrated by Wang Huming in Beijing, the issue forms the ninth part in the Jersey Post series celebrating the Lunar New Year – with 2023’s subject the Year of the Rabbit and 2022’s Year of the Tiger.
Pictured: Wang Huming's design.
The stamp designer, Wang Huming, is the Deputy Chief Designer of the Postage Stamp Printing Bureau of China Post and has created the designs for each of the issues in Jersey Post's Lunar New Year series.
The designs are based on a Chinese style of painting and paper cutting.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.