Chinese New Year falls on Monday the first day of the lunar moon, there are just a few days away from Chinese New Year 2012. According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2012 is the Year of the Dragon (壬辰) that would commence on 23rd January 2012 and go on till 9th February 2013. The Dragon is the 5th sign of the Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 different animal signs.
Chinese Zodiac - 12 animal signs
Dragon is a creature of legend and myth, thus the dragon Chinese zodiac year is special. Think about the dragon! It is the only animal of the Chinese Zodiac that is not real. The Chinese Dragon was made up of different parts of animals having the head of an ox, muzzle of a donkey, eyes of a shrimp, horns of a deer, body of a serpent covered with fish scales, and feet of a phoenix. The Chinese dragon was not seen as a threatening evil being as in the west.
In ancient China, power and emperor was represented by the celestial Dragon. At present the Dragon signifies happiness and success. In fact, the Han Chinese still call them the descendants of the Dragon. It is believed that the Dragon Year 2012 would bring for all of us good luck and charm.
China dragon playing with the flaming pearl.
It is believed that the Dragon Dance performed on Chinese New Year’s day can scares away the evil spirits and all the bad luck with them. During the Dance, a dozen or more performers hold the dragon up on poles. One performer uses a pearl-like thing to lead the dragon. They raise and lower the Dragon slowly or rapidly making it "dance" as they wind through the masses to the sounds of horns, drums and gongs. Dragons can be varying in length, some reaching up to 100 meters long! It is believed that the longer the Dragon is, the more luck it will bring!
Above is a short clip of a Chinese New Year Dragon Dance at Pavilion KL in 2012.
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