To: NATIONAL EDITORS

Contact: Melissa Dodge, +1-202-268-5188 (office), +1-202-360-1552 (mobile), melissa.l.dodge@usps.gov; or James Wigdel, +1-415-550-5718 (office), +1-415-205-4708, james.t.wigdel@ usps.gov, both of USPS

Year of the Rat Stamp Kicks Off Series That Runs Through 2019

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following release was issued by the United States Postal Service:

What: In observance of the Chinese New Year, the U.S. Postal Service will debut a new stamp series for the 12 different animals in the Chinese calendar. The series will continue through 2019. The first stamp in the series is for the Year of the Rat, which begins Feb. 7, 2008 and ends Jan. 25, 2009.

Who: Katherine Tobin, Member, U. S. Postal Service Board of Governors
Claudine Cheng, Former President, Organization of Chinese Americans, Inc.
Sidney Chan, President, Board of Directors, Chinese Chamber of Commerce
Kam Mak, Stamp Designer
Leung's White Crane Kung Fu Association, White Crane Lion Dance

When: 11 a.m. PT
Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008

Where: Nob Hill Masonic Center
1111 California St., San Francisco, CA 94108

Background: According to legend, the animals raced across a river to determine their order in the cycle. The rat crossed by riding on the back of the ox, jumping ahead at the last minute to win the race.

People born in the year of a particular animal are said to share characteristics with that animal. Those born during the Year of the Rat are said to be adaptable, clever, ambitious and industrious.
 
Wikipedia link to Year of the Rat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_(zodiac)

Persons born within the following date ranges can be said to have been born in the Year of the Rat:
February 18, 1912 - February 5, 1913
February 5, 1924 - January 24, 1925
January 24, 1936 - February 10, 1937
February 10, 1948 - January 28, 1949
January 28, 1960 - February 14, 1961
February 15, 1972 - February 2, 1973
February 2, 1984 - February 19, 1985
February 19, 1996 - February 6, 1997

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20071226/pl_usnw/
new_stamp_series_will_observe_chinese_new_year