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.