Millions worldwide and a billion plus Chinese in their homeland will usher in their new year 2024 – the year of the Dragon today(Saturday, 10 February). It is also celebrated with great fervor in many Asian countries, including Vietnam and Korea.
Chinese New year usually last up to 16 days and public holidays in that country will last up to Feb 17. People usually return home for celebrations, houses are decked up with festival couplets, red lanterns on doors or windows, people buy new clothes and families get together for a big feast.
The Lunar New Year or Spring Festival is based on moon cycles, falls on a different day every year, and marks the start of a new lunar calendar. It celebrates the arrival of spring.
Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year is particularly significant and has deep cultural and traditional roots. It is a time for families to gather, pay respect to their ancestors and welcome the arrival of spring.
The Year of the Dragon- the fifth animal of 12 in the Chinese zodiac calendar, will begin on Feb. 10 and end on Jan. 28, 2025, followed by the Year of the Snake.
While 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, the next one will not be until 2036 and the previous one was in 2012.
Dragon is the only mythical creature among the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, and it’s paired with element, wood.
In Chinese culture, the dragon has significant symbolism and is revered. It represents positive qualities such as power, strength, good luck, and wisdom. The Chinese dragon is considered a celestial and divine creature, with the ability to control natural elements such as wind and water.
It’s believed that the Dragon represents strong and great leadership, and wood Dragons are considered introvert, but successful leaders who are dedicated to their work.
According to Associate Professor Xiaohuan Zhao, Chinese Studies in the School of Languages and Cultures, University of Sydney individuals born in the Year of the Dragon are believed to possess certain characteristics and traits associated with the dragon.
“They tend to be ambitious, confident and charismatic. They possess an abundance of energy and enthusiasm while also displaying exceptional intelligence and power. They are naturally lucky and gifted, often accomplishing their endeavours with exceptional standards of excellence. However, they may also exhibit negative characteristics, such as arrogance, bigotry, dominance, irritability, and subjectivity, which may make them reluctant to accept defeat.”
Prominent people born in the Year of the Dragon include Russian President Vladimir Putin, fmr British PM Boris Johnson, actor Bruce Lee and the US civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
