Year of the Snake

Illustrating the Year of the Snake, the miniature sheet in the stamp series featuring Chinese horoscope animals shows a grass snake swimming along Åland granite cliffs. The grass snake (Natrix natrix) is one of three species of snakes in Åland, the others being viper and smooth snake. The grass snake lives near streams and lakes and moves quickly and easily both on land and in water. Grass snakes are often black with a small head and yellow or white neck patches.

The miniature sheet is one in a series of stamps illustrating Chinese zodiac signs with an Åland twist. Other stamps in the series are: Åland sheep (2014), Europa – Old toys (2015), Roosters (2016), China dogs (2017), Pigs (2018), Mice (2019), Oxen (2020), Tiger cats (2021), Hares (2022), and Dragons (2023).