Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Year of the Dragon Chinese New Year Coming Soon (Photo Essay)

DRAGON OF OGIMI

That's right folks, the Chinese New Year,  Year of the Dragon (龙) is coming soon.

It arrives January 23, 2012 so, this Sunday will be New Year's Eve, all over again, for those of us who happen to go by the Lunar Calendar.  Sounds fair enough, to me.  Two New Years are better than one.  Dontcha think ?

CORONATION PARADE NAHA

Along with a few photos of dragons I shot on the island of Okinawa I want to tell you some of the things about people born in the Year of the Dragon.  These tidbits of information may come in handy, someday if you have any dragons living in your house or somewhere in your neighborhood. 

Dragons are flamboyant. Look at all that gold on the dragons above.  That's one of those people-powered contraptions that Chinese envoys hauled royalty around in when they visited the Ryukyu Kingdom years ago.

ONNA SON DRAGONBOAT NIGHT REHERSAL


Dragons are also pioneers and water has a calming effect on their spirit.

DRAGONBOATS OF ONNA SON

Dragon people are brave and self-assured.

SHURI CASTLE NAHA

And, they are smart but, have a wicked sense of humor.

DRAGONBOATS OF NAHA

They have good luck and are someone you'll want on your team.


THE DRAGONS OF GINOZA

Yellow is the dragon's lucky color probably, because it's close to gold.

DRAGONBOATS OF OGIMI

They are a big attraction to the opposite sex.  I wonder if that has anything to do with gold ?

A HATAGASHIRA IN NAHA OKINAWA, JAPAN


If you were born in the year of the Monkey, Rat or Rooster you should hook up with a dragon.

DRAGONBOATS OF NAGO

They might be stubborn but, they make lots of money.  Two of the Beetles and Al Pacino were born in the Year of the Dragon and they easily make twice what I do.

IRIS FESTIVAL


Some folks in Japan believe the Iris Flower looks like a Dragon.  They throw the flower petals in the bathtub with their sons.  I guess that's to scare away evil spirits.  Or, maybe they figure the dragons will make them strong and wealthy, like the Beetles or Al Pacino.

A GODDESS OF KOURI JIMA I'M STILL STUDYING UP ON


Oh, I almost forgot.  Dragons (龙) are the people to ask about the latest fashion trends, too.

They keep their eyes open for those sorts of things, I guess.

See, I'm not really into fashion.  I was born in the Year of the Rat.  Wife's a cow.


The Year of the Dragon is almost here.  So, if you want to see where I got most of this information and be ready for the Chinese New Year, look here:


CHINESE NEW YEAR 2012:  YEAR OF THE DRAGON














21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Interesting post, this was really useful. thanks!

RyukyuMike said...

Anonymous,
Glad you enjoyed!

Michael Figueiredo (StruxTravel) said...

Really pretty shots. I love those long boats!

jade said...

love the bright colors on the dragon boat races!

Muza-chan said...

Great photos, I love the dragons :)

RyukyuMike said...

Michael Figueiredo,
Thanks. They have dragonboat races in almost every town that touches water on this island.

Jade,
Yes, they do splash some nice colors for photographers to shoot.

Muza-chan,
Gotta love those dragons. They're everywhere!

Denise said...

I am an Ox...doesn't sound as cool as being a dragon :(

Nancie said...

A wonderful set of shots, Mike. I'll be celebrating CNY here in Chiang Mai for the third year in a row. I love the parade.

Dalena said...

I'm a dragon and this is mostly true. Actually remarkable!

Dalena said...

I'm a dragon and this is remarkable! True for me!

Dick Jordan said...

Great shots, Mike!

Never saw those Dragon Boats when I was living on Okinawa from 1969-70.

InsideJourneys said...

Love, love, love the boats.
Happy Chinese New Year, Mike!

Leigh said...

Love this post and the pictures. Your personality shines through - or at least how I think you would be. I'm a rooster though I think I should have been a dragon. I was on a dragon boat team for three years out of North Vancouver and miss the water & camaraderie.

Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista said...

Really great pictures! I do like dragon boats. They are so colorful and look awesome on the water.

RyukyuMike said...

Denise,
Actually, my wife is an Ox, too.
The Japanese translation of that animal on the Zodiac is "Ushi". Really, it's an Ox but,ushi in Japanese translates to cow, in English. Ya didn;t think I was really gonna call my wife a cow and get away with it. Did ya?
Y'all Ox (Oxes/Oxen/Oxens?) are fine people.

Nancie,
Only your 3d year in a row? I thoughjt you lived there, like forever!

Dalena,
Lots of my friends are Dragons, too. Is this the 1st you've heard of the Chinese Zodiac?

Dick,
See, you didn't get off the beaten path enough. Bunch of us Ryukyuan transplants are trying to keep the English speaking audience, over here, informed about the cool sites to see on these islands in the sun.

Inside Journeys,
Thanks and a Happy Lunar New Year to you and yours!

Leigh,
Shucks, I bet only one out of every 12 people rowing those dragonboats is really a dragon. Be proud you're a rooster and strut yer stuff!

Debbie,
Thanks. Those dragonboats are colorful but, take some powerful rowing to win a race. Almost dislocated a shoulder once when I was doing it. Ask the Rooster lady up above !

Cathy Sweeney said...

Absolutely, two New Years are better than one. I was born in a year of the horse (won't say which one), so guess it's good I didn't hook up with a dragon. The photos are fabulous -- love the scenes and colors.

RyukyuMike said...

Cathy,
Aw, I bet you're a few moons younger than me. Ya don't really believe Dragons are bad for Horses. Do ya?

Nomadic Samuel said...

Incredible photos! What an exciting time of year.

RyukyuMike said...

Nomadic Samuel,
These photos were taken throughout the year but, every day on Okinawa is exciting, to me!

Sophie said...

Love dragons in every shape and form. Excellent photos, Mike, so bright and cheerful.

RyukyuMike said...

Sophie,
Glad to hear you like dragons. I'll have to see what new ones I can come up with for you.