WHAT:

The United States Postal Service in collaboration with St. John’s University will unveil the 2016 Lunar New Year stamps.

This years’ Lunar New Year stamp is the ninth of a twelve part series celebrating the cultural astrological constellations, which this year commemorates the Year of the Monkey.

The stamps go on sale at the Nation’s post offices on the same day as the stamp unveiling ceremony. An autograph session immediately follows the event. One hour prior and after the ceremony the USPS will offer the new stamps and philatelic and collectors’ items for cancellation. The event is free and open to the public.

WHO:

Richard Uluski, Area Vice President, Northeast Area, United States Postal Service
David Williams, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President,
United States Postal Service
Kam Mak, Artist
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY)
Pi Delta Psi Fraternity Inc. (St. John’s University), Performance of Lion Dance
Payton Berry, St. John’s student soprano, Performance of National Anthem
SJU Chinese Cultural Association, Chinese Ribbon Dance
SJU Chinese Students & Scholars Association, Traditional Musical Performance

WHEN:

Friday, February 5, 2016
11:00 a.m.

WHERE:

St. John’s University
Queens Campus – D’Angelo Center, Fourth Floor
8000 Utopia Parkway
Jamaica, NY 11439

BACKGROUND:

The stamp art features two bright reddish-orange peonies against a purple background. Peonies symbolize wealth and honor in Chinese culture and often decorate the sides of the traditional drums played during the holiday festivities.

The stamp design incorporates two elements from the previous series of Lunar New Year stamps: the intricate cut-paper design of a monkey and the Chinese character for “monkey,” drawn in grass-style calligraphy.

Art director and stamp designer Ethel Kessler incorporated elements from previous series of Lunar New Year stamps — Clarence Lee's intricate paper-cut design of a monkey and the Chinese character for "monkey," drawn in grass-style calligraphy by Lau Bun--to create continuity between the series.

The calendar year for the Year of the Monkey – is part of an ancient tradition in which the Chinese Zodiac, Sheng Xiao, attaches animal signs to each lunar year in a cycle of 12 years. It reflects a similar concept in western astrology and means "circle of animals" – and remains popular in Asian communities around the world. Some experts say it does not matter which animal the zodiac sign refers to, as the emphasis relies on the connotation of the animal. Personality traits are associated with the zodiac animals, according to cultural folklore. People born in the Year of the Monkey (1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, and 2028) are associated with wit and intelligence.

To learn more about the stories behind the stamps, visit http://uspsstamps.com.

St. John’s University
Founded in 1870, St. John’s is a Catholic and Vincentian university that prepares students for ethical leadership in today’s global society. The University has three residential campuses: in Queens and Staten Island, NY, and in Rome, Italy. St. John’s also has a Manhattan (NY) campus along with academic centers in Oakdale, NY; Paris, France; and Seville, Spain.

Students come from 47 states and 115 countries. The University offers more than 100 associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in the arts, business, education, law, pharmacy, and the natural and applied sciences. In addition, students benefit from academic service-learning activities, extensive global studies opportunities, and 17 BIG EAST, Division I men’s and women’s athletic teams.