The Postal Service dedicated the latest stamp in its Lunar New Year series, Year of the Rabbit, at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco on Jan. 12.
“This is an important celebration for many Asian people, with an estimated 1.5 billion people around the world marking this special occasion,” said Derek Kan, a member of the USPS Board of Governors, who helped dedicate the stamp.
Kan said the Postal Service has issued stamps highlighting Lunar New Year for more than three decades, “and they are some of the most successful stamp releases in our history.”
He urged customers using the stamp to reflect on the part played by Asian Americans in the country’s journey.
Also participating in the ceremony were London Breed, mayor of San Francisco; Jay Xu, director of the Asian Art Museum; Claudine Cheng, president of the APA Heritage Foundation; Donald Lu, president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce; and Linda Ng, national president of OCA — Asian Pacific American Advocates.
Fiona Ma, state treasurer of California, served as master of ceremonies.
“I want to thank the United States Postal Service and their workers for all the hard work they do every day,” Breed said. “This stamp symbolizes our continued commitment to working with one another not only during this time of the year but all year round.”
The Year of the Rabbit begins Jan. 22 and ends Feb. 9, 2024. Parades and pageants with dancers, acrobats and musicians often ring in the Lunar New Year.
Stamp artist Camille Chew’s festive masks are a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk-art crafts used during many of the celebrations.
“Hope characterizes the Year of the Rabbit in 2023 — and it fills me with hope to unveil this unique Lunar New Year stamp at our museum,” said Xu.
He added that the stamp showcases “the power of art everywhere” to tell the stories of a diverse America “with beauty and joy.”
