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The Dragon holds a significant place as an auspicious and extraordinary creature, unparalleled in talent and excellence. The Dragon symbolizes great power, nobility, honor, luck, and success. The Dragon is the 5th Chinese Zodiac! In a majority of Chinese folk legend, dragons are the fifth of the Chinese zodiacs. Dragons hold a unique place in the Chinese Zodiac. Of all the animals present, only dragons are mythical. As is well known, dragons occupy a special seat in traditional Chinese folklore.

(source: studycli.org)

One of the most famous Chinese myths involving dragons tells of a devastating drought that was ravaging China. The four mighty dragons of the sea saw this calamity unfolding. They took pity on the human race, which would soon perish if rain did not fall. The four dragons took it upon themselves to travel to the highest heaven and petition the Jade Emperor, ruler of heaven and earth, to send rain. After they were given an audience and had made their case to the Jade Emperor, he absentmindedly agreed to send rain. However, being understandably preoccupied with running the affairs of heaven and earth, the Jade Emperor promptly forgot his promise to send rain. 10 days passed without action. Blades of grass turned to bristles and the soil cracked and blistered in the relentless heat of the sun, people began to die. Seeing this tragedy, the four dragons took it upon themselves to remedy the situation. They gathered up fresh water and released it onto the land, finally bringing an end to the apocalyptic drought. When the Jade Emperor learned that they had acted on their own without his permission, he was enraged. He ordered them to be imprisoned for eternity, weighed down by the Mountain God himself. From their mountain prisons sprouted the four rivers of China, the Yellow River, the Yangtze, the Pearl River, and the Amur River. China would never again be without water.

People born in years of the Dragon are gifted with innate courage, tenacity, and intelligence. Dragons are usually enthusiastic and confident. They are not afraid of challenges, and willing to take risks. They strive to break away from traditional norms and pave the way for a brighter future. (source: studycli.org)

More about the 5th Zodiac, the Dragon:

Lucky: Colors: gold, white, and grey Numbers: 1, 6, 7 Flower: bleeding-heart glory bower and dragon flowers

Unlucky: Colors: blue and green Numbers: 3, 8

Rat: 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, and 2032
 Ox: 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, and 2033
 Tiger: 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, and 2034
  Rabbit: 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, and 2035
Dragon: 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, and 2036
 Snake: 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, and 2037

Horse: 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026, and 2038
 Goat: 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, and 2039
 Monkey: 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, and 2040
Rooster: 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 and 2041
Dog: 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, and 2042
Pig: 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043

To celebrate the Lunar New Year we have a special challenge for you! In this event you are going to create a character based on the fifth Chinese Zodiac, the Dragon! You may include your birth zodiac in the design, but the Dragon must be visible and the main element in the design. You can make the character anything you want so be creative and imaginative!  

We have included information about the Dragon above, so you may use that in the design. The outfit doesn't necessarily have to be Lunar themed, but you can if you want it to be! We hope you will take up this challenge and celebrate the Lunar New Year in a creative way. Have a Happy Lunar New Year and may the year of the Dragon be filled with happiness!

The Lunar New Year has been around for centuries and became significant through the myths and traditions. It is also commonly known as, "Chinese New Year." due to its origin in China. Traditionally, the festival was a time to honor deities as well as ancestors. A family would have a variety of activities and foods, all symbolic and important in celebrating Lunar New Year. Some of these traditions included setting off fireworks to scare away evil spirits, decorating everything in red to bring in the year with good luck, and even cleaning to appease the Gods that are coming down from heaven!

The Lunar New Year is a calendar that is based on the lunar cycles, or the phases of the moon. The new year usually begins with the new moon around the end of January and lasts around 15 days until the full moon arrives with the Festival of Lanterns, which marks the end of the new year celebration.

Lunar New Year is celebrated in other Asian countries and territories, including Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Mauritius, and the Philippines. The Lunar New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and its geographical neighbors. Although the holiday originated from China, the neighboring countries adapted and developed their own traditions over time. It is nice to note that although it is not a national holiday, other countries like to celebrate as well such as: America, Australia, Canada & United Kingdom!

Here are some Lunar New Year greeting from neighboring countries in case you're curious!

Chúc mừng năm mới - Vietnamese
Sa was dee pee mai - Thai
Selamat tahun Baru - Malaysian/Indonesian
Saehae bok mani badeuseyo - Korean
Manigong Bagong Taon - Philippine

The celebration will be divided into two sections: overlays and the drawing challenge. The overlay portion requires you to have an overlay over your DP for the duration of the event. The second portion is a drawing challenge for those who would like make artwork inspired by the Lunar New Year. You can participate in both sections or just one! Both sections will have its own reward as well! Please read the sections for further information.