A Chinese dragon. Chinese New Year Dragon Dances. Dragon dances are an important part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Along with lion dances, they are often the highlight of Chinese New Year parades. From Chinese New Year's Day to the Lantern Festival, dragon dances can be seen in many places in China and Chinatowns around the world. They The tales not only enrich the cultural narrative but also instill a sense of reverence towards the dragon during the New Year festivities. 8. Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of the Dragon in Chinese New Year. The dragon’s multifaceted role in Chinese New Year celebrations is a testament to its enduring legacy in Chinese culture. Celebrations for Chinese New Year, a 16-day affair that begins on Wednesday, Jan 29, 2025, often begin with a dragon dance. In the past, it was a way of asking the dragon gods to give citizens a V. The Dragon’s Role in Traditional Festivities. The dragon plays a central role in many traditional festivities during Chinese New Year. It is a prominent feature in parades and community events, where large dragon puppets are carried through the streets, accompanied by music and dance. III. The Dragon Dance: A Central Element of Celebrations. The dragon dance is one of the most vibrant and lively performances during the Chinese New Year celebrations. This traditional dance involves a team of dancers who manipulate a long, flexible dragon figure, typically made of fabric and bamboo. The performance is characterized by: The dragon dance occurs at every Chinese New Year celebration, making it one of the most popular and well-known Lunar New Year traditions. It takes a number of talented people to make the large A traditional Chinese New Year dragon dance is performed in Liverpool’s Chinatown in January 2023. Getty Images. By Chad de Guzman. February 6, 2024 5:00 AM EST. Like the lion dance, the dragon dance is usually performed at Chinese traditional festivals such as Chinese New Year or important occasions such as business opening events. Dragon Dance Meanings of Dragon Dance. Like the phoenix and the unicorn, the dragon is a fictitious image in mythology. These sights brought to mind the quintessential Chinese New Year dragon dance. The ‘ 舞 龙 ’ (wǔ lóng) or ‘dragon dance’ features a puppet dragon made of wood and cloth supported by seven-to-ten dancers with poles. It has long been a part of Chinese New Year celebrations, often included in parades. The Chinese zodiac consists of 12 animals—the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig—that alternate every Lunar New Year. The dragon’s presence in global Chinese New Year celebrations: The dragon has transcended borders, becoming a symbol of Chinese culture in international celebrations, uniting diverse communities. Influence of technology and media on dragon symbolism: Social media and digital platforms have allowed for creative representations of dragons Why does Chinese New Year fall on different dates? Rather than following the western Gregorian Calendar with 365-day years, the Chinese New Year follows a lunar calendar based the moon's 12 phases Chinese New Year marks the transition between zodiac signs: 2025 is the Year of the Snake; 2024 the Year of the Dragon. Advertisement. 2025 Guide. Find out what the nine Chinese dragons symbolize ahead of Chinese New Year celebrations, and what role they play in daily life. While the Lunar New Year follows the lunar calendar in Chinese astrology, Iskandar explains that "a new astrological year falls on Feb. 4 each year according to the solar calendar." After a challenging Year of the Dragon, 2025 brings much-needed stability for Dragons. The lingering effects of last year’s Tai Sui clash will fade by spring, allowing you to enjoy a year of steady progress, especially in financial matters.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |