12 years later, New Year's sheep finally finishes knitting scarf

In 2003, Japan's post office issued a stamp (left) that showed a fluffy sheep busily knitting a scarf. This year, it’s wearing the scarf and holding the knitting needles. Photo/SHUJI KAJIYAMA / ASSOCIATED PRESS

When millions of Japanese get their customary New Year's greeting cards Thursday, the sheep that's on the postage stamps will have finished knitting the scarf it began 12 years ago.

Traditionally, people in Japan send friends, colleagues and relatives, postcards—often hundreds of them—decked with pine trees, cranes and other symbols of good luck to welcome the new year, but also showing the animal of the year, as set by the Asian zodiac.

Although most stores and businesses are closed on Jan 1, mail workers are hard at work, making sure all the cards get delivered.

The sheep is the animal for 2015, heralding a year of harmony as well as possibly meekness, according to astrological storytelling.

In 2003, the stamp on the cards issued by the post office had as its design a fluffy sheep busily knitting a scarf.

This year, it's wearing the scarf, and holding the knitting needles, perhaps a little proudly.

It is not clear what it plans to knit for 2027.