Chinese Signs of the Zodiac – Year of the Snake

This year, we are continuing our "Chinese Signs of the Zodiac" series with a new special stamp for the "Year of the Snake" (face value: CHF 2.50). International designer Tiger Pan combined two traditional Chinese cultural elements for this: the snake as a sacred animal that symbolises luck, wealth, wisdom and lon- gevity, and the concentration game mahjong. The shape of the snake is geometric and its body is made of pieces arranged in familiar patterns. Invented in ancient China, the game aims to create order in apparent chaos by gradual- ly clearing away matching pairs.

It requires concentration and the ability to remain calm and react intelligently despite the chaos. The designer sees a similarity here to the turbulent developments in today's rapidly changing world. Just as the players in the game of mah- jong work their way through the fog of chaos with foresight, calm and precision, he be- lieves that people should also work towards a stable future in life with courage and wisdom. According to tradition, the Year of the Snake 2025 offers hope and suitable opportunities for precisely this.