Let's Celebrate: Promises of The Dragon

It seems as if the holidays just flew by so quickly, and now the bleak months of winter have really set in.

So: what we need is another celebration, one that can get us to the other winter holidays of Super Bowl Sunday and, later, Valentines Day. Maybe a "second chance holiday" to bring renewed energy to the brand new year is a good idea. Chinese New Year ushers in the year of the Dragon and falls on January 23 this year, and culminates 15 days later with the Full Moon and the Chinese celebration of the Lantern Festival. It is the most important holiday in Chinese culture, much like Western celebrations, but all rolled into one!

The Chinese calendar is based on both lunar and solar actions. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to become balanced with the solar calendar, the Chinese add an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-year cycle). It is the same as adding an extra day on leap year. This is why Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year.

Traditionally, Chinese New Year began as a religious ceremony honoring Earth and Heaven; a time of thanksgiving to honor the gods and ancestors, and an important time for families to gather and share traditional foods and gifts. The Lantern festival—which marked the ending of the New Year festivities—was/is a time to honor the full moon and the coming of spring. Bright lanterns are lit to symbolize the brilliance of Spring.

The Chinese associated each year with a different animal of the Chinese zodiac. They believe that, being born during the year of a certain animal, you will end up sharing the characteristics of that animal. So what does the year of the Dragon hold for us? The Dragon is a mythical creature, but symbolizes an Emperor and power. It is an auspicious emblem and signifies success and happiness—so 2012 should be a good year for enterprise, and that is good news for all. The year of the Dragon also promises to be an exciting year in which we should all look forward to with cheerfulness and enthusiasm. The Dragon can be a bit dramatic, so this is not a year to take unnecessary risks.

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, it is appropriate to give a little red envelopes with money inside to symbolize wealth for the coming year. If you are given one of those envelopes, it is bad luck to open in the presence of the person who gave it to you.

Certain foods are said to bring good luck for the coming year, too, and be sure to eat with the family. For a traditional Chinese New year menu, have eight or nine dishes to share with the family. (The number eight represents longevity and the number nine- prosperity.) That seems like a lot, so perhaps try dumplings—as they are said to look like gold nuggets, and thus bringing prosperity. Long noodles symbolize a long life. An orange represents wholeness.

Decorate your home with fresh flowers to symbolize new beginnings, and maybe add a few posters (or post -it) with the word FU, a Chinese word for luck and happiness!

It is a Chinese custom to enter the New Year with a clean house and new clothing, so get rid of the old and replace with new. It is also customary to have your hair cut for fresh start to the new year.

Lastly—think red: the color of luck. Wear lots of red during the 15 day celebration.

--

Are you a Dragon? find your birth year here to see:

Dragon Years

01/23/1928 to 02/09/1929

02/08/1940 to 01/26/1941

01/27/1952 to 02/13/1953

02/13/1964 to 02/01/1965

01/31/1976 to 02/17/1977

02/17/1988 to 02/05/1989

02/05/2000 to 01/23/2001

01/23/2012 to 02/09/2013

Now, some famous Dragons you all are likely familiar with: Count Basie, Julie Christie, James Coburn, Bing Crosby, Neil Diamond, Matt Dillon, Placido Domingo, Kirk Douglas, Michael Douglas, Marlene Dietrich, Tom Jones, John Lennon, Nick Nolte, Al Pacino, Elaine Paige, Gregory Peck, Cliff Richard, Martin Sheen, Ringo Starr, Shirley Temple.

If you would like further info, or want to find out what your Chinese Zodiac animal is, either leave me a comment or send me an email.

Until next time, remember: magic happens!