The Postal Service will release its Year of the Horse stamp, the seventh in the current Lunar New Year series, on Feb. 3.
The Lunar New Year holiday is celebrated in many Asian cultures around the world and historically marks the arrival of spring. It has become a popular observance in the United States, with festivities that include parades, special foods and gifts.
The lunar calendar operates on a 12-year cycle, with each year assigned a different zodiac animal.
The horse is the seventh animal in the Chinese zodiac. The horse is associated with speed, strength and endurance. People born in the Year of the Horse are said to be energetic, free-spirited, confident and hardworking.
In 2026, the Year of the Horse begins Feb. 17 and ends on Feb. 5, 2027.
The stamp features a horse image that evokes the ornate masks used in Lunar New Year parades.
Deep vermillion, violet and blue are the predominant colors. The horse mask incorporates some elements of symbolic meaning, including paper flowers for spring adorned with gold leaves for luck.
Referencing the ornate masks used in Lunar New Year parades, the current stamp series offers a contemporary take on the tradition of paper folk art created during this time of year.
Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp with original artwork by Camille Chew.
The current Lunar New Year series began in 2020 with Year of the Rat, which was followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon and Snake.
The Postal Service’s two previous Lunar New Year stamp series ran from 1992-2004 and 2008-2019.
The Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse stamp will be available in panes of 20 at Post Offices and usps.com.
The Postal Service will dedicate the stamp during a ceremony in Houston.
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