CELEBRATIONS – CHINESE NEW YEAR – FIRE MONKEY “2016”

Celebrations - Chinese New Year

Fire Monkey "2016"

Characteristics:

Start : February 8th, 2016
End : January 27th, 2017
Element : Fire

Description:

The Monkey (猴) is the ninth of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Monkey is associated with the Earthly Branch symbol 申.

Personality:

Occupying the 9th position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Monkey possesses such character traits as curiosity, mischievousness, and cleverness. Forever playful, Monkeys are the masters of practical jokes. Even though their intentions are always good, this desire to be a prankster has a tendency to create ill will and hurt feelings.

Although they are inherently intellectual and creative, Monkeys at times have trouble exhibiting these qualities. When that happens, they appear to others to be confused. But nothing could be further from the truth as Monkeys thrive on being challenged. Monkeys prefer urban life to rural, and their favorite pastime is people-watching.

The Fire Monkey:

The Fire Monkey is the most active and aggressive of the Monkeys. Naturally dominant, he automatically gravitates towards leadership roles and is competitive in whatever he is doing. He will need to be careful not to let this overwhelm him and turn into toxic jealousy.

He also constantly strives to be in control of whatever situation he is in, which can become overbearing. The main drive for whatever he embarks on is to head straight for the top and stay there. However, when he is in charge of a situation, his people skills kick in and he does nurture those under his charge who need it.

With his Fire energy, this agile, impulsive Monkey often leaps where angels fear to tread. This reckless behavior sometimes turns out to not be to the Fire Monkey’s advantage. However, he is very creative, dynamic and has a particularly good talent at drawing people to him – this often helps him get out of scrapes. He’ll leap from tree to tree – whichever has the most fruit at the time – then find the quickest, cleverest escape before others get to him.

In general though, the Fire Monkey is flamboyant and charmingly friendly, and has a large social circle.

Life Lessons:

The Fire Monkey’s aggression needs to be channeled correctly to correct and positive directions, or he risks become very destructive and harmful. If the Fire Monkey could develop more patience, it would be good for him and those who work with him The Fire Monkey also needs to think through his ideas before acting on them in order to safeguard his own interests.

Philatelic Issues

2016 – Uruguay – Unique Stamp, from Year of the Monkey Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: January 28th, 2016
Printed: 15.003 Copies
Type: Unique Stamp from Series
Value: UYP 20

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 27 mm. x 39 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

TOPIC STUDY - #0001 - CHINESE CALENDAR - URUGUAY

Chinese Calendar - Uruguay ( Previous / Next )

Topic Description:

The Chinese Calendar is a Lunisolar Calendar which arranges the year, month and day number upon the astronomical date. It is used for traditional activities in China and Overseas Chinese communities. It determines the date for the Chinese traditional holidays, and instructs Chinese people in selecting the Lucky Day of a Wedding or Funeral, for Opening a venture, or a Relocation.

In the Chinese Calendar, the Days begin at midnight and end at midnight of the next day. The Months begin on the day with the dark (new) moon and end on the day before the next dark moon. The Years begin on the day with the dark moon near the Vernal Commences. The Solar Terms are the important components of the Chinese calendar. There are one or two, and occasionally three, solar terms within a month.

The present Chinese Calendar is the product of evolution. Many Astronomical and Seasonal Factors were added by Ancient Scientists, and people can reckon the date of natural phenomena such as the moon phase and tide upon the Chinese calendar. The Chinese calendar has over 100 versions, and the characteristics of these versions reflect the evolutionary route of the Chinese calendar. Like Chinese characters, these versions of Chinese Calendar is adopted throughout the Sinosphere. In Korea, Vietnam, and the Ryukyu Islands, the Chinese Calendar was adopted completely. In Japan, the Chinese calendar was used before the Edo period, and the later Japanese calendar used the Algorithm of the Chinese calendar.

The Chinese Calendar is not the official calendar in China (see Minguo calendar for post-1912 History), but plays an important role there. The official name of the Chinese calendar is the Rural Calendar, but people often refer to the Chinese calendar with other names, such as the Former Calendar, the Traditional Calendar, or the Yin Calendar.

Brief Description of Releases:

Only a few Releases on Chinese Calendar Topic were released by the Uruguayan Post Office, being precisely, only Six Releases were issued until now, being Four of them, with Chinese Calendar as Main Topic, then One having a Major Reference in the Design, and the another One having a Minor Reference in the Design.

The First Uruguayan Release related to the Chinese Calendar Topic, was issued on October 21st of 1996, and although the Main Topic of the Release was about an International Philatelic Exhibition called Taipei '96, it has a Major Reference in the Design to the Year of the Rat from the Chinese Calendar. Next year, in a similar way, it was issued on November 19th of 1997 a Release about another International Philatelic Exhibition called Shanghai '97, and as it was located in the Sinosphere too, it has a Minor Reference in the Design to the Year of the Ox from the Chinese Calendar. Finally, the same two Animals from the Chinese Zodiac, were, each one, the Main Topic for two different Releases. These Animals were: The Horse, in the Releases issued on May 14th of 2002 and on January 31st of 2014; and the The Goat / Ram / Sheep, in the releases issued on February 7th of 2003, and February 19th of 2015, being this the Last Uruguayan Release related to the Chinese Calendar Topic.

Chronological Ennumeration of Releases:

October 21st of 1996: Single Block Series with Major Reference in the Design to Year of the Rat
November 19th of 1997: Two Blocks Series with Minor Reference in the Design to Year of the Ox
May 14th of 2002: Single Stamp Series with Year of the Horse as Main Topic
February 7th of 2003: Single Stamp Series with Year of the Goat / Ram / Sheep as Main Topic
January 31st of 2014: Single Stamp Series with Year of the Horse as Main Topic
February 19th of 2015: Single Stamp Series with Year of the Goat / Ram / Sheep as Main Topic

Relevance Clasification of Releases:

Main Topic of the Release:

May 14th of 2002: Single Stamp Series with Year of the Horse as Main Topic
February 7th of 2003: Single Stamp Series with Year of the Goat / Ram / Sheep as Main Topic
January 31st of 2014: Single Stamp Series with Year of the Horse as Main Topic
February 19th of 2015: Single Stamp Series with Year of the Goat / Ram / Sheep as Main Topic

Major Reference in the Design:

October 21st of 1996: Single Stamp Series with Major Reference in the Design to Year of the Rat

Minor Reference in the Design:

November 19th of 1997: Two Blocks Series with Minor Reference in the Design to Year of the Ox

 Topic Intrinsical Classification of Releases:

01 - Year of the Rat:

October 21st of 1996: Single Stamp Series with Major Reference in the Design to Year of the Rat

02 - Year of the Ox:

November 19th of 1997: Two Blocks Series with Minor Reference in the Design to Year of the Ox

07 - Year of the Horse:

May 14th of 2002: Single Stamp Series with Year of the Horse as Main Topic
January 31st of 2014: Single Stamp Series with Year of the Horse as Main Topic

08 - Year of the Goat / Ram / Sheep:

February 7th of 2003: Single Stamp Series with Year of the Goat / Ram / Sheep as Main Topic
February 19th of 2015: Single Stamp Series with Year of the Goat / Ram / Sheep as Main Topic

If you consider that there are another releases in this Topic, that were not spot in this review, you are encouraged to telling me about them, so please do not hesitate to post a comment. I would appreciate your help very much.