Chinese New Year 2012: The Year of the Dragon
Dragon art print by Katsushika Hokusai
In Chinese tradition, each year is dedicated to one of twelve different animals: a dragon, horse, monkey, rat, boar, rabbit, dog, rooster, ox, tiger, snake or ram. The Chinese New Year typically falls in January or February and lasts for 15 days. In 2012, January 23 marks the beginning of the Year of the Dragon.
The dragon is an especially important animal in Chinese culture because it is the imperial symbol. The dragon also represents luck, power and wealth. It is said that people will exhibit personality traits of the animal that symbolizes the year they were born. Some celebrity dragons include: Bing Crosby, John Lennon, Al Pacino, Martin Sheen and Shirley Temple.
Even if you were not born in the Year of the Dragon, you can still reap the benefits associated with the mythical animal. It’s believed that dragon years are lucky years for wealth, so 2012 is considered a good time to start a new business or begin a new endeavor.
It is Chinese tradition to leave the past behind when beginning a New Year. This means cleaning your house, getting a new haircut, getting new clothes and starting the year off fresh. BandagedEar.com has a variety of dragon art prints to redecorate your home and to bring in 2012 with a bang!
Tags: 2012 Year of the Dragon, Chinese New Year, dragon art prints, Year of the Dragon