Pig puts stamp of good fortune on new year

(CBC) - To usher in the new year of the Chinese zodiac, Canada Post on Friday trotted out its Year of the Pig stamp and souvenir sheet.

The stamps will bear the new postage rates, of 52 cents for domestic letters and $1.55 for international letters, that take effect on Jan. 15.

"The pig is the most generous and honourable sign of the zodiac, and it heralds a year of contentment, security and optimism," Canada Post said in a release.

The pig will rule the Chinese zodiac from Feb. 18 this year through Feb. 6, 2008.

People born in the Year of the Pig, (1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007), are described as kind, trustworthy and dependable, with a love of luxurious things.

The stamps feature stylized, embossed pigs against pink and green backgrounds. Artists Kosta Tsetsekas and John Belisle of Vancouver's Signals Designs created the stamps.

© the CBC, 2006