The Chinese Lunar Calendar

Our new friend dirtydan223, posted a link to the UNPA, which pictured the UN's new Chinese Lunar Calendar Year of the Snake minisheet.
It got me thinking, but I didn't want to hijack his thread, so I'll post my thought here.


What's with all the Chinese Calendar stamps the last few years?????!

Canada has been issuing them, it seems over and over. And so have many other countries, apart from China!
At the risk of sounding politically incorrect, and ticking off billions of our Chinese compatriots, haven't we had enough? I know I have.
Ok, China is an emerging economy...super power really. The Sleeping Giant as, I believe, Napoleon called it. For a communist country, they really get the value of a dollar.
But will someone please explain to me the incredible fascination, philatelically speaking, of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, and the need for our post offices to repeatedly acknowledge it?
I guess I just don't get it.
Rant over. I'm going to bed now.

Follow the money.

The Chinese world's population is approximately 6.7 billion; how about that to start. They have an excellent culture and a rich history. They had large cities with roads and invented moveable type while our ancestors were still rubbing two sticks together to make fire in caves. It's a small way to honor this rich culture.

Hal

Take a small look at Canada's Chinese Demographics

Uh, we may have to give the Chinese a couple of more decades.