Year of the Dragon — Chinese New Year

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Photo by Uwe Duerr. (Foto­pedia Magazine)

Happy Chi­nese New Year! Jan­uary 23 marked the offi­cial start of the Year of the Dragon.

A quick look at Wikipedia explains that “Chi­nese New Year is the most impor­tant of the tra­di­tional Chi­nese hol­i­days. In China, it is known as “Spring Fes­tival,” the lit­eral trans­la­tion of the Chi­nese name 春節 (Pinyin: Chūn Jié), since the spring season in Chi­nese cal­endar starts with lichun, the first solar term in a Chi­nese cal­endar year. It marks the end of the winter season, anal­o­gous to the Western car­nival. The fes­tival begins on the first day of the first month (Chi­nese: 正月; pinyin: Zhēng Yuè) in the tra­di­tional Chi­nese cal­endar and ends with Lantern Fes­tival which is on the 15th day. Chi­nese New Year’s Eve, a day where Chi­nese fam­i­lies gather for their annual reunion dinner, is known as Chú Xī (除夕) or “Eve of the Passing Year.” Because the Chi­nese cal­endar is lunisolar, the Chi­nese New Year is often referred to as the “Lunar New Year.

The Dragon (sim­pli­fied Chi­nese: 龙; tra­di­tional Chi­nese: 龍), is one of the 12-​​year cycle of ani­mals which appear in the Chi­nese zodiac and Mon­go­lian zodiac related to the Chi­nese cal­endar and Mon­go­lian cal­endar, and the only animal that is leg­endary. The Year of the Dragon is asso­ci­ated with the earthly branch symbol  and is con­sid­ered the luck­iest year in the Chi­nese Zodiac.”

According to chi​ne​se​zo​diac​.com, the Dragon “occupys the 5th posi­tion in the Chi­nese Zodiac, and is the might­iest of the signs. Dragons sym­bolize such char­acter traits as dom­i­nance and ambi­tion. Dragons prefer to live by their own rules and if left on their own, are usu­ally suc­cessful. They’re driven, unafraid of chal­lenges, and willing to take risks. They’re pas­sionate in all they do and they do things in grand fashion.   Others are attracted to Dragons, espe­cially their col­orful personalities.”

Cel­e­brate the Year of the Dragon with either dragon or asian motif fur­nish­ings from Clayton Gray Home.

Dragon Lamp by Arte­riors Home

Dragon Sconce by BoBo Intriguing Objects

Medal­lion Stool by Emis­sary (Dragon Motif)

Praying Boy Figure by Emissary

Musi­cian Boy Figure by Emissary

Guardian Lions on Base by Emissary

 

Bamboo Metal Mirror

 

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