Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau issued the label stamps “Lunar Year of the Snake”, “Lunar Year of the Horse”, “Lunar Year of the Goat”, “Lunar Year of the Monkey”, “Lunar Year of the Rooster”, “Lunar Year of the Dog”, “Lunar Year of the Pig” and “ Lunar Year of the Rat” under the stamp series of Chinese Zodiac between 2013 and 2020. The ninth issue with the stamp theme “Lunar Year of the Ox” will be issued on 20^th January, 2021, the printing quantity is 1,000,000 label stamps.

According to “Jinanfuzhi Suishi”, official records of Jinan City on the customs of the Chinese New Year during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, among the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, the ox is the one that has the greatest proximity to the “New Spring”, that is, the Lunar New Year. As mentioned in the texts of rites of “周禮” (Zhouli) and monthly decrees of “月令” (Yueling), the oldest collection of records on laws, orders and ceremonies, as well as the customs of Chinese astrology, “create clay ox to ward off the cold”, gave rise to the popular rite of “Flogging the Spring Ox”. “In the beginning of Spring, officials have vivid battles, oxen are used to crop, and this season became known as cropping Spring, to show the intention to promote agriculture. In late autumn, crops are sown with oxen, official’s families are sent everywhere, and drum music is presented, this is called the Sending of Spring”. Lively and outstanding. The custom of cropping with oxen continues to this day.

The above issue will be available for sale at the General Post Office (9:00a.m. to 5:30p.m.), the Communications Museum (9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m., 2:30p.m. to 5:30p.m.), and the “Rua do Campo” Post Office (9:00a.m. to 7:00p.m.). The mail service for the relative philatelic products cancelled with the commemorative postmark will be available on the issue date at the above locations. The philatelic products are as follows:

On the issue date, the maximum sales quota per queuing customer is 20 sets of 4 label stamps, 5 first day covers with label stamps and 5 information brochures with label stamps.

Arrangement of automatic stamp vending machines

The following designated automatic stamp vending machines will have a temporary arrangement; the maximum time limit for using the vending machine is 5 minutes for each queuing customer.

- General Post Office, Lobby

- Communications Museum, Ground Floor

- Red Market (Almirante Lacerda) Post Office

The stamp designer of this issue is Ms. Anita, Fung Pou Chu, and the text of the information brochure is written by Mr. Gong Gang.

This is the first theme in 2021. The theme “Lunar Year of the Ox” also included the commemorative stamp to be issued on 05/01/2021.

Technical Data of Label Stamp “Lunar Year of the Ox”

Details