Year of the Tiger

How appropriate is it that the Year of the Tiger Stamp first-day issue was celebrated at the El Pueblo Historical Monument in Los Angeles, where Chinatown originated?  There are several Chinatowns throughout the United States but Los Angeles is also home to the Chinese American Heritage Museum.  The first day issue occurred on February 14, 2010, the start of a new lunar year.  The Year of the Tiger will last until February 2, 2010, at which point it will be the Year of the Rabbit.  The United States Postal Service will also feature the other 11 animals in its series, “Celebrating Lunar New Year.”  The Year of the Tiger stamp is the third in this series.

The Chinese New Year is based on the lunar calendar and is celebrated by nations all over the world.  The Chinese tradition uses one of 12 animals to signify a year, cycling through them.  2010 is the Year of the Tiger, a year of luck to those who are born under this sign.  Those born under the tiger possess many of the same traits of the tiger such as power, vigor, nobility, and independence.  The Chinese associate the tiger to Army generals, similarly to how they identify the dragon with their emperors.