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`We are now ushering out a year eventful both at home and abroad, and are full of hope looking forward to a new year, the year 1981. It is our custom about this time of year that we get busy planning for a better year, benefiting by reflections on the past year, and also that we think about our relatives and friends, whom we have not seen often enough living our bust life, and show our affection for them by inquiring after their wellbeing by letter or by visiting with them in person. The Ministry of Communications issues two stamps of New Year`s Greetings in order to add to the happiness with which people send and receive these greetings. 1. The Cock, the 10th the twelve figures The New Year is the year of the cock. Every year since 1976, the Ministry of Communications has been issuing a New Year stamp depicting the animal of the year among the twelve animal figures representing the twelve branches of the Earth inscribed in relier on the stone wall of Gen. Kim Yu-shin of the Shilla Period. The cock is the 10th figure of the twelve animal figures. Legend has it that the sequence of the animals-muse, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, cock, dog and pig-was decided according to the order in which they came to their god to pay their New Year respect. 2. A Pair of Multi-colored Cranes These cranes are designed after the embroidered patches affixed to the breast and back of the official uniforms of old. The embroidered patches on an official uniform represented the rank of the wearer, and crane patches were worn by the civil servants. The crane, with a long neck and a pair of long legs, looks elegant and beautiful. It is also known to be an animal of longgevity, and was thus considered to be an animal of good omen. This is why it was one of the most favorite animals of our ancestors.`