New Year features family reunions
THIS year marks the year of the 'Loong' or Chinese dragon, the mythical creature symbolising power, strength, and good fortune.
Dragons are known to be powerful and endlessly energetic creatures. It is also full of vitality, goal-oriented yet idealistic and romantic, and a visionary leader.
The event is filled with family reunions, visitation from family and friends, food enjoyment and also gifts offerings over several days.
The Dragon is the fifth animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac signs, coming after the Rabbit and before the Snake.
Dragons present themselves as magnificent yet benevolent rulers who're confident, generous, idealistic, and ambitious.
According to chinesenewyear.net, 2024 is the Year of the Wood Dragon.
In Chinese culture, Dragon's confidence is neither false nor empty, as they hold lofty ideals they're striving toward — usually for the benefit of their community instead of themselves.
These mythical creatures are in a class of their own, regarded as the givers of abundance and longevity.
They are independent thinkers who'll never yield their highest conviction and are also wise and adventurous and, at times, temperamental and impulsive.
Dragons are loved and admired by many but find it difficult to return such affection — this is one of a Dragon's most important lessons.
They also have their strengths and weaknesses.
Dragons are upright characters themselves and scorn any hypocritical or dishonourable behaviour, it also has a self-respecting pride that's matched by wisdom, generosity, vigour, and talent.
They're full of energy and can attract followers with their charisma.
People who are born in the year of the Dragon are usually courageous and fearless leaders who'll never back down from any challenge.
On the flip side of Dragons' confidence and courage, they can also become domineering, temperamental, self-centred, and gullible.
This last possibility seems difficult to understand until you realize Dragons believe themselves to always know best. On the social side, Dragons can be prone to desperation in their younger years because they hate being alone, especially in love.
They can come off as overbearing when they're only showing that they care.
One of the most common gesture that Chinese people practise during the Chinese New Year is giving out red packets to kids and elders as it is believed to help cast away the bad luck (demon Nian) and bring good luck.
Decorating their house with kumquat trees (symbolises wealth and good luck), wearing lucky colours such as yellow and red, eating lucky food like rice dumplings (family togetherness), fried flour-coated peanuts (vitality), walnut cookies (happiness) these are popular ways that Chinese follows to get lucky.