Detail

`According to the Chinese calendar, 2005 marks ``the Year of the Chicken.`` Since ancient times, chickens have been regarded as the symbol of success, wealth and personal achievement, and people who pursued academic accomplishments or government posts hung paintings of chickens in their studies. According to Dongguksesigi (book recounting the customs and traditions of the Joseon Dynasty [1392 - 1910]), families greeting the New Year hung paintings depicting chickens or tigers and prayed for misfortune to be dispelled as they believed chickens have the power to drive away evil spirits. Additionally, chickens symbolized having many children, and, as a result, paintings of chickens drawn in the late Joseon Dynasty depicted a hen with a dozen or more chicks in hopes of having many children, which was deemed as one of the five major blessings of life. And because people thought of chickens as something that brings good luck, brides and grooms would make their marital vows in front of depictions of chickens at their wedding ceremonies. In Korea, chickens are generally praised for having five different types of virtues. In detail, their cockscomb signify ``studiousness`` their claws symbolize ``martial arts`` the scene of cocks fighting boldly denotes ``bravery`` their calling the herd together at the sight of food indicates ``patience`` and their habit of crying out at dawn in a punctual manner points out ``reliability``. The Korea Post issues postage stamps for ``New Year`s Greetings,`` in the hope that everyone will begin the year 2005 in a powerful fashion like the rooster that heralds the arrival of dawn after the nightly darkness.`