A new U.S. Postal Service stamp marking the Lunar New Year was unveiled Wednesday in San Francisco by city and postal officials.
The stamp, which features firecrackers and Chinese calligraphy, “is a reflection of our cultural heritage” as Asian communities prepare for the Lunar New Year on Feb. 10, Mayor Ed Lee said.
San Francisco Postmaster Raj Sanghera said fireworks have been seen as scaring off evil spirits and welcoming “a time of renewed hope for the future” as the Year of the Snake begins.
“We’re happy to provide our customers with the opportunity to really appreciate the beauty (of the stamps) and use them in their greetings to family and friends,” Sanghera said.
Board of Supervisors president David Chiu said he used to collect stamps as a child and appreciates how “they tell so much about our country’s history.”
Chiu said it was fitting for the stamp to be unveiled for the first time at City Hall, where San Francisco has its first Asian mayor and currently has five Asian-Americans on its Board of Supervisors.
“To be able to unveil the stamp that really tells our history is simply amazing and wonderful,” he said.
The stamps are available for purchase in any post office, Sanghera said.
Pictures of the Lunar New Year stamp and other stamps that will be offered by the Postal Service in 2013 are available on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/USPSStamps or on the website www.beyondtheperf.com/2013-preview.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
Want more news, sent to your inbox every day? Then how about subscribing to our email newsletter? Here’s why we think you should. Come on, give it a try.
