There are a total of 12 animal signs in the Chinese calendar based on five cycles of 12 years each, with each cycle tempered by one of the five Chinese elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. According to Chinese astrology and belief, the traits of these zodiac animals not only shape the personalities of people born under the respective sign but also their lives and the events of the year.

The charming, resilient and high confidence Rooster, tenth in the Zodiac Cycle starts off yet another New Year on the Chinese zodiac calendar in 2017. Three graphical illustrations of this pompous Rooster ushering in the new Lunar Year 2016 are shown in this set of stamps of 1st Local, 70¢ and $1.30.

Being the tenth of the 12 animal signs, those born in the year of Rooster are often said to possess character traits such as courageous, hardworking and outspoken. They are always active, amusing and popular among the crowd. Roosters are talkative, outspoken, frank, open, honest, and loyal individuals.

As 2017 is the year of the Fire Rooster, they are highly motivated and authoritative. They are strongly principled and single-minded in their pursuit of success. They abide fanatically by their own views, and will be unmoved and unswayed by the feelings and personal opinions of others, but will be professional and ethical in his dealings.

Famous personalities born in the Rooster year include Larry King, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Benjamin Franklin, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Caine, Rod Stewart and Zhuge Liang (Premier of Shu in China's Three Kingdoms Period Period 220 - 280 ).