OTTAWA, Ont. - Monday, January 23 marks the most important day on the Chinese calendar, the lunar New Year and the start of the Year of the Dragon.
Ottawa's Chinatown will welcome the new year on Saturday, January 28, with a Lion Dance. The party gets started at 1 p.m. on Somerset between Preston and Bay Streets.
New year celebrations traditionally last 15 days, and are considered a time to share gifts, visit family and friends and as with any holiday... eat.
At midnight on New Year's Eve, dumplings ensure happiness and prosperity. Golden foods bring wealth over the year, while red foods make 2012 a lucky one. The shape of your food also can play a role in the path of your year. Longer foods like beans or noodles promote longevity and family unity is encouraged by round shapes.
The Dragon Personality
The Dragon is a creature of myth and legend. A symbol of good fortune and sign of intense power, the Oriental Dragon is regarded as a divine beast - the reverse of the malicious monster that Westerners felt necessary to find and slay. In Eastern philosophy, the Dragon is said to be a deliverer of good fortune and a master of authority. Therefore, those people born in Dragon years are to be honored and respected.
Years of the Dragon
Fifth in the cycle, Dragon Years follow the Rabbit and recur every twelfth year. The Chinese New Year does not fall on a specific date, so it is essential to check the calendar to find the exact date on which each Dragon Year actually begins
1904 * 1916 * 1928 * 1940 * 1952 * 1964 * 1976 * 1988 * 2000
Sign of the Dragon
The key to the Dragon personality is that Dragons are the free spirits of the Zodiac. Conformation is
a Dragon's curse. Rules and regulations are made for other people. Restrictions blow out the creative spark that is ready to flame into life. Dragons must be free and uninhibited. The Dragon is a beautiful creature, colorful and flamboyant. An extroverted bundle of energy, gifted and utterly irrepressible, everything Dragons do is on a grand scale - big ideas, ornate gestures, extreme ambitions. However, this behavior is natural and isn't meant for show. Because they are confident, fearless in the face of challenge, they are almost inevitably successful. Dragons usually make it to the top. However, Dragon people be aware of their natures. Too much enthusiasm can leave them tired and unfulfilled. Even though they are willing to aid when necessary, their pride can often impede them from accepting the same kind of help from others. Dragons' generous personalities give them the ability to attract friends, but they can be rather solitary people at heart. A Dragon's self-sufficiency can mean that he or she has no need for close bonds with other people.
Dragon Facts
People born in the Year of the Dragon share certain characteristics. The Dragon sign is an abbreviated way of characterizing that individual's personality. Following are features associated with the sign of the Dragon.
Fifth in order
Chinese name: Long
Sign of luck
Hour: 7am-8:59 a.m.
Month: April
Western Counterpart: Aries
Characteristics
- Innovative
- Enterprising
- Flexible
- Self-assured
- Brave
- Passionate
- Conceited
- Tactless
- Scrutinizing
- Unanticipated
- Quick-tempered
The element this year is Water Dragon 1952 and 2012
Water has a calming effect on the Dragon's fearless temperament. Water allows the Dragon to re-direct its enthusiasm, and makes him more perceptive of others. These Dragons are better equipped to take a step back to re-evaluate a situation because they understand the art of patience and do not desire the spotlight like other Dragons. Therefore, they make smart decisions and are able to see eye-to-eye with other people. However, their actions can go wrong if they do not research or if they do not finish one project before starting another.
Dragon Career
Those who are born in dragon year are expected to do extremely well and can make money out of
almost any venture. Always supported by friends, dragons work selflessly to achieve success in
business. It is the very nature of those born in the Dragon year to have respect in their life. Giving orders is something very natural to them. Freedom of thought and movement and new challenges are important for the dragon people.
High skills, strong opinion, capability to execute projects, competitiveness, and innate aggression are among the many characteristics of the dragons that can act both positive as well as negative, when it comes to career. The dragon people should know how to tone down on their expectations. Are you a dragon born and planning to give your career a fly in the 2012 year of Dragon? This could then be of your help for sure!
Best Jobs for the Dragon
Dragons can really flourish high in their career as Advertising executive, Salesperson, Managing director, Barrister, Prime minister or President, Film producer, Architect, Astronaut, Photojournalist, Artist, War correspondent and Film stars. These are the best jobs for the dragons.
Famous Dragon People
Calista Flockhart, Colin Farrell, Courtney Cox, Courtney Love, Dinah Shore, Isabella Rossellini, Julia Ormond, Juliette Binoche, Reese Witherspoon, Roseanne Barr, Sandra Bullock, and Wynonna Judd.
