Year of the Domestic Ruminant

February 19th was the Chinese or Lunar New year and the start of the year 4713. The Chinese also have 12 astrological or zodiac symbols, one for each year in the cycle but they are all animals and if you are born in that year it is believed that you will have the characteristics of that animal. I was born in the year of the Ox and therefore should be calm, patient and dependable. If only ^_~ The animals are:

Rat

Ox

Tiger

Rabbit

Dragon

Snake

Horse

Sheep

Monkey

Rooster

Dog

Pig

This is the year of the sheep. But also the goat. Basically the year of the domestic even toed ungulate. Sheep and goats are nothing alike as far as I can tell. However sheep are not as nice as they look and goats are obviously not evil. So perhaps being born in the year of the sheep/goat means you will be a perfectly pleasant person. Or you will have a split personality!

This is the only stamp I could find showing any kind of domestic ungulate. Obviously since I live in South Africa I have plenty showing wild antelopes.

This stamp came in a packet marked Pan Africa but most of the stamps were from Malta, which is in Europe. There were also a few stamps from the Maldives and Macau (both in Asia) as well as Mexico, Martinique and Montserrat (all in the Americas). In the whole packet there were 5 stamps from Africa! It was one of those very delightfully quirky things that happen occasionally.

It is very common here in South Africa to have a young boy looking after goats and cattle. Or rather you see the goats and cattle wandering all over the road (even in busy urbanised areas) and no boy at all.

Check out Sunday Stamps to see more.