With origins that can be traced back over 4,000 years, Chinese New Year, also known as Chinese Spring Festival, is the oldest and most celebrated event in the Chinese calendar. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2022 is the Year of the Tiger and begins on 1 February 2022 at the start of the Spring Festival and lasts until 21 January 2023. To celebrate the Chinese New Year our stamps depict the tiger and have been created by artist Chrissy Lau. In China, colours are used symbolically within ceremonies, festivals, and rituals, and Chrissy has chosen them to represent meaning on the stamps. The use of red symbolises good fortune and joy, whilst the gold detailing represents wealth, prosperity and happiness.
The First Day Cover features a tiger adorned with a Chinese scroll design, inspired by Chinese ceramic patterns, and holding a gold ingot for good luck. The Presentation Pack depicts two tigers celebrating the Spring Festival with lit firecrackers to ward off evil spirits. The tigers’ bodies are decorated with an eternal knot to represent longevity, prosperity and happiness. One of the tigers holds some ribbons, which are said to increase the chance of good fortune. The Souvenir Sheet features a tiger whose body is heavily decorated with gold coins to attract wealth in the New Year; the First Day Cover depicts a tiger adorned with a Chinese scroll design, inspired by Chinese ceramic patterns, and holding a gold ingot for good luck.
