Year 4710: Happy Chinese Lunar New Year 2012. Gong Hei Fat Choy

According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, 23 Jan 2012 begins the year 4710.   The world’s oldest surviving culture brings in the new year on the dark of the moon with a party that lasts until the first full moon of the year.

It is the year of that fiery mythical personality known as the year of the dragon.  Rash, brash and bold.  Dragons are leaders and loners.

The Chinese New Year is sometimes called the Spring Festival.  At the end of the two week celebration of the Chinese New Year comes a kind of festival of lights called The Lantern Festival is held.  Many brightly colored paper lanterns will be seen everywhere. 

Given that it is the year of the Dragon, this might be a good year to go and and observe the dragon dance.  Many young men will hold up a mock dragon and dance in the streets.

In the movie called The Never Ending Story there was a dragon called a Luck Dragon.  In Chinese culture as well, dragons can be bringers of luck and good fortune.

Guo Nian Hao. Gong Xi Fa Cai. Gong Hei Fat Choy. Wan Shi Ru Yi. Happy Chinese Lunar New Year 2012!