Were you born in 2012? Maybe 2000? Or possibly 1988? If so, according to the Lunar zodiac chart, you would be a Dragon. The start of this Lunar New Year marks the glory of the Year of the Dragon. The popular holiday marks the new year based on the Lunar calendar and begins this year on February 10.

The importance of the dragon stems from its magic. Since it is the only mythical zodiac creature, and plays a big role in the Lunar celebration, there will be a lot of great things to be expected in 2024. The dragon is characterized as a symbol of good luck, strength and power. This means a successful and powerful year for all, according to the Los Angeles Times (latimes.com).

East Asian cultures who celebrate the holiday are familiar with one special tradition. Like most holidays this includes eating and spending time with family. The main event is the family dinner that occurs on the eve of the new year. Different cultures celebrate the Lunar New Year with special foods custom to their local culinary traditions and a representation of what the family values. According to CBS, “Many of the dishes are assigned symbolic meanings. For instance, dumplings are given the shape of gold ingots to invoke good fortune” (cbsnews.com).

These parties often include a lot of noise and generous amounts of the color red. Junior Howard Truei explained the importance behind these aspects: “The red wards off evil spirits while the drums and fireworks scare them away.” He celebrates by dining out and enjoying Hot Pot every year when he can’t visit family in Taiwan. The boiling vibrant pot of spices paired with the loud joy of family strongly encapsulates the spirit of the new year.

The dragon dance is widely associated with Chinese New Year and is commonly accompanied by big furry lion dancers as well. The National Library Board describes the dance: “The Chinese believe that performing the dragon dance during festivals and celebrations drives away evil spirits and ushers good luck and blessings for the community…. Dragon dance performers are usually martial artists or acrobats who are able to move their bodies rhythmically and synchronize their steps so that the dragon can move gracefully” (nlb.gov.org). This performance is quite spectacular along with the design of the dragon’s glaring eyes, open jaw, long red pointed tongue, the horns on its head and the white beard on its chin.

“[This holiday is] like Christmas, a superstitious one,” said Biology Teacher Justin Nguyen. As a child, Nguyen would spend the season going around to his relatives and wishing them good health, a lucky work year, and a prosperous marriage. This ritual of gratitude is common among children and is often rewarded with a red envelope with money gifted by elders. The envelopes can depict different zodiac animals associated with the year that’s emphasized or have little blessing phrases wishing happiness and prosperity. This year, you might expect to catch a glimpse of a dragon or two on a few envelopes.

Nguyen also explained his Vietnamese Lunar New Year and the faith of luck. The very beginning of the holiday is the most important. This means that the first day is spent on everyone waiting for a special person to arrive to bless the house. Nguyen said, “The future of the household is dependent on the first person who walks into the home, like a guest of honor,” with their presence setting the tone for the year to come. This marks the prosperity of the year, as it rests on the shoulders of who was chosen to visit the house. Holding the bliss of the dragon, the following week is also sacred, since Nguyen ends the year with a clean house, to ensure that there isn’t any cleaning on the first week because it wipes away all the good luck.

Every culture that celebrates the Lunar New Year has different legends, but can all agree that the Year of the Dragon is quite a special one. “A lot of parents will time it to have their child born in the Year of the Dragon,” said Truei. He described the particular auspiciousness in 2000, pointing out that it was considered the year of the “Golden Dragon” and was marked as something even more lucky. Truei added that he has six relatives who were born during that year.

Whether you celebrate the Lunar New Year or not, enjoy the Year of the Dragon, Centurions!