The Year of the Dragon... What Will It Bring?!

What does the Year of the Dragon mean? Each of the twelve animals in the Chinese Zodiac has unique characteristics and each year corresponds to one animal.

The Chinese Dragon has been a symbol of strength and power, wealth and wisdom and considered one of the luckiest animals in the Chinese Zodiac. The Dragon was also the symbol of the emperor in Ancient China.

If you are born in the Year of the Dragon, you will assume the characteristics of the Dragon and it is considered a great honor by Chinese to be born in this year. This year heralds good fortune, wealth, prosperity and longevity, a very lucky year indeed!

In addition to the twelve year cycle corresponding to each of the animals in the Chinese Zodiac, there are Five Elements which are associated with their own "life force" or "chi": wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. This energy blends with the corresponding animal to determine that year's fortune.

For instance, take the dragon combined with the water element. The water element represents flow and therefore flexibility and fluidity. Water at the same time can also be very powerful, as in the power of a flood or surging water. The water element combined with the Dragon's strength and power could mean a year of opportunities and change, a more "fluid" or "flexible" dragon, but also a more powerful one. This could herald a very unpredictable year but one to be embraced and to take advantage of all the good fortune that dragons are known for.

Dragon Mural at the Forbidden City in Beijing

The last year of the Dragon was in 2012, which means the next one will be in another twelve years, in 2024. The Year of the Dragon is so cherished by the Chinese that during this year there is a mini-baby boom as couples try to have Dragon babies.

Get ready for an exciting year and...