Year of the Dragon

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The Chinese Lunar New Year began on February 10th this year. It’s 4722 in the Chinese lunar calendar and it’s the Year of the Dragon, the most famous of the Chinese zodiac animals. Chinese New Year welcomes the new and the good while concentrating on expelling the old and the bad. It’s a time to celebrate the coming of Spring and pray for a good harvest. It’s also a time to revere ancestors and chuck those pesky evil spirits that lurked around last year.

The New Year is celebrated for several days after the 10th and we recently attended one of the many Chinese festivals around town. Red was the color of the day, symbolizing luck, joy and happiness as well as vitality and fertility. We wore red t-shirts (non-matching) to keep those evil spirits away.

My favorite part of this festival is the Lion Dance. It’s colorful and high energy and fun to watch. After a performance on stage, the lions came into the crowd to ‘be fed’. Red envelopes containing money are fed into the lion’s mouth and people clamor to get into line for the feeding. After receiving the gift, the lion bows in thanks.

One Chinese traditional instrument used during those celebrations is the bo lang gu, a traditional double-headed drum with a 3500+ year history. We watched a drum presentation and were pretty impressed with the choreography and synchronicity of the group.

Back to the Dragon … The dragon represents power, strength, good luck, and wisdom. Considered a celestial and divine creature, it can control natural elements such as wind and water. According to the China Highlights website, “In Chinese element theory, each zodiac sign is associated with one of five elements: Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, or Earth. So there are five types of Dragons, each with different characteristics. A person's characteristics are decided by their birth year's zodiac animal sign and element.” This is the year of the Wood Dragon and this dragon is not as outgoing as his elemental counterparts. The wood dragon is introverted, less enthusiastic, and lacking in good relationships. In general, the Dragon is compatible with the Monkey or Rat but needs to avoid the Dog.

I’m an Ox and David is a Rat. According to the Chinese zodiac compatibility charts, we’re good for each other. Forty years and counting… I guess we got it right.

Kung Hei Fat Choi! 恭喜發財! - Congratulations and may you be prosperous