Collection of taste: colorful rabbit stamps

As the Year of the Rabbit approaches, postal services around the world have released a variety of zodiac-themed stamps to celebrate this special occasion. These stamps not only reflect the cultural significance of the Chinese zodiac but also showcase the artistic diversity and creativity of different regions.

On January 5th this year, China Post issued the "Xin Year" zodiac stamp. The design features simple jade rabbits, the moon, and the traditional "Bao Xianghua" pattern—symbolizing good fortune with peonies and lotus motifs. Created by Professor Wu Guanying from Tsinghua University's Academy of Arts, this is the third set of New Year rabbit stamps released by China Post, combining elegance with cultural depth in its small yet meaningful format.

Last December 1st, Taiwan Post launched its first "New Year Stamps" set, including two stamps and a small sheet. The stamps depict affectionate kissing rabbits and rabbits gazing into the distance, while the small sheet shows a lively jumping rabbit. With vibrant orange and purple tones and a striking black silhouette effect, the design captures the joy and vibrancy of the New Year celebration.

On January 22nd, Hong Kong's postal service released a set of four "Year of the Rabbit" stamps, along with a souvenir sheet and stamp sheetlet. The designs feature various types of rabbits, from local wildlife to domestic pets. Similarly, Macau's postal office issued a set of five stamps and a sheetlet designed by Canadian-Chinese designer Lin Zien. Drawing inspiration from last year’s "Year of the Tiger" theme, Lin incorporated the five elements (wood, water, fire, earth, and metal) into the design, reflecting the rich traditions of Chinese cosmology.

Australia released its Year of the Rabbit stamps on January 11th. One design features a Chinese "rabbit" and a shadow version of it, while another showcases a paper-cut style rabbit with the character “和” (harmony) embedded in its body. In South Korea, the commemorative stamp depicts cute cartoon rabbits with large, expressive eyes, reminiscent of elves. Meanwhile, Liberia’s commemorative stamp sheet uses red rhubarb as its main color, paired with auspicious clouds and a Chinese grid pattern, featuring snowflake-shaped rabbits that stand out uniquely.

Canada also released both domestic and international versions of its New Year Rabbit stamps. The domestic version shows a white rabbit leaping across the frame, with one hind leg hidden and the other visible. The international version features two white rabbits chasing each other in a circular motion, set against a red background with intricate embroidery patterns and classical Chinese decorative elements. In France, the stamps were created by Chinese artist Li Zhongyao, who depicted home-fed rabbits using traditional Chinese ink painting techniques, capturing their gentle and elegant nature.

Overall, these commemorative stamps for the Year of the Rabbit incorporate a wide range of traditional and folk art forms, such as calligraphy, paper-cutting, crafting, and kite designs. They serve as a beautiful representation of Chinese culture, showcasing its rich heritage through visual storytelling and artistic expression.