Chinese New Year has been a special holiday in our house for a long time – because our daughter was adopted from China – and I used to live in Hong Kong. Paul’s family lived in Hawaii and we often visited during Lunar New Year celebrations in Honolulu’s Chinatown. When Sophie Quinn was little, we made sure to take her to a CNY celebration each year, complete with Lion Dancers, Red Envelopes, and other festive traditions.
On February 10 the Year of the Dragon will be celebrated. It is considered a very auspicious year. The Chinese zodiac is a 12-year cycle that links each year to an animal sign. (Last year was the Year of the Rabbit.) There is also a 5 year cycle of elements – so this is the year of the Wood Dragon. In the year of the Wood Dragon, it is considered lucky to wear Golden-Yellow and Green. The Dragon represents prosperity, good luck and good fortune… in fact the Year of the Dragon is considered by some to be the luckiest zodiac sign. It symbolizes wisdom, power and strength.
When you are a kid, you receive Red Envelopes full of Lucky Money from your elders. When you are older, you are looking to slurp down some Changshou Mian (Longevity Noodles) to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Never ever cut up your Longevity Noodles because then you are at risk of cutting short the lifespan of the noodle-eater. That’s how the story goes….
Personally I have always been fascinated that dragon stories exist all around the world, from antiquity. Egypt, West & South Africa, Celtic, French and German Dragons, and forest dragons called Lindworms. Greek, Hungarian, Polish and Slavic Dragons…Arabian, Armenian, Mesopotamian, and Persian Dragons….Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and Tibetan Dragons….Polynesian and Aboriginal Dragons….Brazilian and Inca Dragons. So dragons have existed in the human mass consciousness for eons.
Did you know that Free Spirit designer Philip Jacobs recently found a 6-foot fossil skull of a pliosaur? It was featured in a David Attenborough documentary but Philip’s name was not mentioned until the credits at the end which is just terrible. If you see the documentary you will believe it is a Sea Dragon!
So did Dragons exist long ago?
Ponder that question, while you ‘Gung Hei Fat Choi’ for a prosperous Lunar New Year this weekend!
Sharing your love of fabric…
Luana and Paul
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Travel/Quilt Dates:
Feb 21-24, 2024 – QuiltCon in Raleigh, NC – eQuilter is a GOLD Sponsor.
March 6 – Canadian Quilters Association – Zoom Lecture “Intl Quilt Trends”
April 7-12 – Allegre Retreat
