Chinese New Year 2024
Chinese New Year starts on Saturday 10th February this year. It is a festival that lasts for eight days in China. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon and for the first time in 48 years it will be the Wood Dragon that is honoured. Wood denotes creativity and vigour and the dragon represents intelligence, success and honour. People born in the year of the Wood Dragon are full of energy and determination and have ambitions to change the world.
There are five dragons for the Chinese zodiac – wood, fire, earth, gold (metal) and water. The dragon is often shown holding a small globe. It represents a pearl, the symbol of spirituality and energy, and is sometimes enclosed in flames.
There are many versions of the legend of the dragon and the pearl. One tells of a cruel and greedy Emperor ruling a province in China. The people were starving because the crops had failed, and they did everything they could to feed themselves. Some went out each day to cut grass to sell for small amounts of rice.
One day, a boy discovered a patch of beautiful, lush grass. He cut as much as he could, and hurried home to show his mother. The next day he went back and was surprised to see that the grass had grown back as tall and abundantly as before. He dug up a turf to take home, perhaps to grow it in his own patch of land, but underneath the turf, he found a pearl.
Leaving the turf behind, he ran home in great excitement and hid the pearl in a sack of rice. Soon, the sack of rice was overflowing but the grass in the field where he had found it had withered and died. The boy and his mother shared their good fortune with their friends and neighbours and starvation became a thing of the past.
In time, the Emperor heard of the magical pearl and demanded to see it. The boy swallowed it to prevent the Emperor taking it and was transformed into a dragon, charged with protecting the people and the land.
Thank you for the reminder that February 10 marks the beginning of the Chinese new year. It's also our 33rd wedding anniversary. Red can be a very cheerful color and signifies joy and prosperity in the Chinese culture. I'm going to go look for some red ribbons right now.
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary - what a propitious day for you.
DeleteI never knew the legend about the pearl, thank you. I am a water dragon and now I a wondering how many years before the water dragon is honoured. I didn't know they had different years, and didn't know there is a wood dragon.
ReplyDeleteApparently, all the Chinese zodiacal signs have several elements - wood, fire, earth, metal and water. I'm a wood monkey! I can't work out the repetitions.
DeleteAnother great post. I love the knitted letter box cover too. I really enjoy seeing these. There are such talented and creative people about!
ReplyDeleteThe post box looked a little bare for a few days and I feared there would be no more covers. I do applaud the anonymous people who create them - they make such a difference and I'm sure the posties appreciate them.
DeleteThat's a nice dragon story. I've heard that Chinese couples will be very busy over the next couple of months, ensuring they have a child born in the Year of the Dragon.
ReplyDeleteThey should have started several months ago to be really sure!
DeleteInteresting post, love the post box topper.
ReplyDeleteIt's so bright and cheerful - I love it.
DeleteHaHa! Thank goodness, we've seen the last of the
ReplyDeletecolour yellow for a while....! :(.
Love dragons...l think there quite unique in there looks,
and appear in all the best stories and films....! :).
And even look great on top of a pillar box...!
Me! Goes without saying...l was born year of the 'PIG'....!
HeHe! Oink! Oink! You should see my curly tail....! :O).
🐷 🐷 🐷 🐷 🐷 🐷 🐷 🐷 🐷 🐷 🐷 🐷
Dragons can look quite different according to the artist. They are fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI am born in the year of the Rooster. Depending on which description you subscribe to, I can either be 'deep thinkers and the Roosters' personality is considered to be honest, bright, communicative, ambitious, capable and warm-hearted' or 'People born in the year of the rooster are aggressive and picky. They pay very close attention to their appearances and actions, and they are great performers. In addition with their hard-working and dependable personality, they make great leaders. This zodiac is aggressive because they like to argue and will tell the truth even if it hurts.' Oh dear.
ReplyDeleteJust choose the definition you like and go with that!
DeleteWow that is beautiful made.
ReplyDeleteWe don't know who makes them, but they are replaced at regular intervals and give much joy.
DeleteI'd never heard of that. What a wonderful story!
ReplyDeleteIf only everything could be explained so easily:-)
DeleteI do like the post box topper.
ReplyDeleteHappy Chinese New Year to all who celebrate.
All the best Jan
Chinese New Year celebrations continue for a long time, apparently, though I don't know if that's standard across the world or just in China (and Hong Kong and Taiwan)
DeleteCool great post.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know the story, so thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThat postbox topper is delightful too!
Chinese New Year means a quieter time for me at work, as all Chinese companies we work with are closed for at least 10 days ... xxx
That's a positive benefit - enjoy your quieter week. x x x
DeleteThat is one truly glorious dragon.
ReplyDeleteIt is and looks quite friendly, too.
DeleteAnother great story about the pearl and the dragon. Thank you for sharing. I love the dragon post box cover.
ReplyDeleteWhoever makes them puts such a lot of work into them and they really are appreciated..
ReplyDeleteHi Janice - fascinating to read - thank you. Amazing postbox cover ... they are clever aren't they - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThey're lovely and such a cheerful thing to see.
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