Australia:Christmas Island: Year of the Ox 2021

Lunar New Year, also called the Spring Festival in China, is the most important of the traditional festivals celebrated by Asian cultures throughout the world. It is a time to complete unfinished business and settle debts to begin the New Year with a clean slate. Celebrations include congregating with relatives and friends for feasts and to exchange gifts of money wrapped in lucky red paper. Incense is burned to honour ancestors.

The Year of the Ox begins on 12 February 2021. The second animal sign in the 12-year cycle, the hardworking, honest Ox is highly esteemed because of the important role it plays in agriculture. Those born under the sign of the Ox are said to be sincere and modest, cautious and patient. They also have a tendency to be stubborn and slow.

There are many legends relating to the animals of the zodiac and the reasons for their order, including the story of the Great Race. Long ago, the Jade Emperor of Heaven decided that animals would be designated as signs for the calendar. He held a race that included crossing a great river and decreed that the first 12 who arrived would determine the composition and order of the zodiac.

Issue Description
The illustration for this issue is by Chrissy Lau, an award-winning, British-born Chinese illustrator who is based in Sydney. The stamp designs feature the traditional lucky colours of gold and red and were inspired by ornaments and flowers that are said to invite wealth and good fortune.

Stamps
Ox (AU$1.10)

In this design, the Ox is holding a Chinese coin in his mouth similar to Feng Shui frog ornaments used in Chinese culture to attract wealth. The Ox is relaxing in a rice paddy with water lilies in between his legs. Subtle coin patterns decorate the body of the Ox.

Ox (AU$2.20)

In this design, the Ox has a cloud pattern on his body, to represent good fortune and auspiciousness. Inspired by Feng Shui ornaments, the Ox is carrying three gold ingots and a longevity knot decoration.

Ox (AU$3.30)

In this design, the Ox is depicted with chrysanthemum flowers, which symbolise joy, happiness and longevity, as well as a necklace of golden coins for good luck.

Sheets
The Christmas Island: Year of the Ox 2021 Minisheet consists of the three stamps from the issue displayed differently from the gummed stamps, incorporated into a Miniature Stamp Sheet.

The Christmas Island: Year of the Ox 2021 Zodiac Sheetlet contains the three stamps from the issue in minisheet-format along with 12 additional stamps featuring all the animals of the zodiac.

The 12 stamps are made up of:
 * 3 x 10c stamps
 * 3 x 40c stamps
 * 3 x 70c stamps
 * 3 x $1 stamps

First Day Covers
The first First Day Cover is a pictorial envelope with the three stamps from the issue affixed and postmarked. - First day of issue | 8 January 2021 | Christmas Island, WA, 6798

Envelope size: 190mm x 110mm. The second First Day Cover is a pictorial envelope with the Minisheet from the stamp issue affixed and postmarked - First day of issue | 8 January 2021 | Christmas Island, WA, 6798

Envelope size: 190mm x 110mm. The third First Day Cover is a pictorial envelope with the twelve gummed stamps from the Zodiac Sheetlet affixed and postmarked - First day of issue | 8 January 2021 | Christmas Island, WA, 6798

Envelope size: 190mm x 110mm.

Prestige Booklet
The Prestige Booklet from the Christmas Island Year of the Ox 2021 stamp issue contains unique stamp configurations only found in this book, along with in-depth information on the issue.

888 Lunar New Year: Year of the Ox Gold Minisheet
The Year of the Ox 2021 gold 888 Minisheet is limited to just 888.

The Gold Minisheet features a beautiful, graphic rendition of 888, with smaller versions of the Year of the Ox stamps forming part of each figure 8. The 888 gold Minisheet comes in an attractive pack.

Gold Minisheet in Folder
The Year of the Ox 2021 Gold Minisheet in Folder contains a gold-foiled version of the Christmas Island: Year of the Ox 2021 Minisheet presented in high quality folder.

Gutter Strips
The AU$1.10 Gutter Strip consists of 10 x $1.10 Zodiac Ox stamps from the Christmas Island: Year of the Ox 2021 stamp issue, five on either side of the blank strip separating the two panes of a stamp sheet. The AU$2.20 Gutter Strip consists of 10 x $2.20 Zodiac Ox stamps from the Christmas Island: Year of the Ox 2021 stamp issue, five on either side of the blank strip separating the two panes of a stamp sheet. The AU$3.30 Gutter Strip consists of 10 x $3.30 Zodiac Ox stamps from the Christmas Island: Year of the Ox 2021 stamp issue, five on either side of the blank strip separating the two panes of a stamp sheet.

References & Notes
References

Notes