The Year of the Hare begins Feb. 16, 1999. The hare symbolizes generosity, kindness, a quick wit and the ability to make peace. It is the seventh design in the Lunar New Year series, which began with the Rooster issued in 1992, followed by the Dog, Boar, Rat, Ox and Tiger. Designer Clarence Lee, an American of Chinese descent, combines a paper-cut design and calligraphy. The Chinese Lunar New Year is celebrated by Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, Tibetans and Mongolians. The Tibetan-Mongolian calendar varies slightly, by a month, but the astrological calendar is the same.
