WWU celebrates the Year of the Dragon

1/27/2012 Mary Ann Beahon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (573) 592-1127

 

This is the Year of the Dragon in Chinese culture, and William Woods University students recently celebrated by making dragons and masks.

The Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity of the year for the Chinese. It lasts for 15 days and in China it is known as "Spring Festival" because it marks the end of winter.
 
Chinese New Year is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations, such as mainland China, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and in Chinatowns around the world.
 
Tammy Carter, director of multicultural affairs, told the students, "One of the traditions is for every family member to thoroughly clean the house to sweep away any ill-fortune in hopes to make way for good incoming luck."
 
The students colored a dragon and attached it to a streamer and individually wrapped Twizzlers. They also colored a mask, another representation of the new year.
 
While the students worked, Carter went on to say, "Like Americans, the Chinese also have a zodiac calendar. However, unlike Americans, who base their symbols on birth months, the Chinese base their zodiac symbols on the birth year."
 
There are 12 symbols: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig and Dragon. Each symbol is observed every 12 years.
                                                          
Carter asked the students which year they were born in, and explained that just as with the American zodiac calendar, each animal has a description of what people born under that sign are like.
 
A person born in the Year of the Dragon is said to be magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, eccentric, intellectual, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, artistic, generous and loyal. Can be tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, impetuous and brash.
 
If you wish to know more about your Chinese sign and what it means, go to: wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_zodiac.  For information about your compatibility, go to: www.west-meet-east.com/horcom.htm
 
                                                                          
 
CUTLINES:
Jennifer Boudreau, a senior elementary education major from Jefferson City, Mo., colors her dragon.

Phoebe Brown, a sophomore from Alameda, Calif., contemplates what colors to use for her dragon.

Tammy Carter, director of multicultural affairs, shows some of the completed dragons.