The Postal Service will release Year of the Snake, the sixth in the current Lunar New Year series of stamps, on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
The Lunar New Year holiday is celebrated in many Asian cultures around the world and historically marks the arrival of spring. It has become a popular observance in the United States, with modern festivities that include parades, special foods and gifts.
The lunar calendar operates on a 12-year cycle, with each year assigned a different zodiac animal.
The snake is the sixth animal associated with the Chinese zodiac. The Year of the Snake is sometimes referred to as a “little dragon year” because it follows the auspicious Year of the Dragon.
In 2025, the Year of the Snake begins Jan. 29 and ends Feb. 16, 2026.
The stamp features a snake image that evokes the ornate masks used in Lunar New Year parades.
Green is the predominate color, which is considered lucky for those born in the Year of the Snake. Blue accents represent the wood element in Chinese culture while pink and orange flowers celebrate the arrival of spring.
Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp with original artwork by Camille Chew and photography by Sally Andersen-Bruce.
The Postal Service’s two previous Lunar New Year stamp series ran from 1992-2004 and 2008-2019.
The current series began in 2020 with Year of the Rat, which was followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit and Dragon.
The Year of the Snake stamp will be available in panes of 20 at Post Offices and usps.com.
The Postal Service will dedicate the stamp Jan. 14 during a ceremony in Boston.
