#5428 - Year of the Rat

Lunar New Year is the most important holiday of the year for many Asian cultures across the world, featuring many rituals to celebrate its arrival. The rat is the first of the 12 animal signs in the zodiac associated with the Chinese lunar calendar. The rat mask's main color in the stamp is blue, which is believed to be one of the lucky colors for those born during the year of the Rat. The mask's design also includes many elements with symbolic meaning, such as the circle in the center representing the new moon on which the new year starts. A dash of red ties the design in the other decorations celebrating the lunar new year. Scott 5428 Year of the Rat