Happy Chinese New Year! The Year of the Dragon 2012

Happy Chinese New Year!

Monday, January 23rd begins the Year of the Dragon!

We are blessed to be the parents of two Chinese/American daughters.

Sarah Zheng-Kang and Faith Fu Ju
 at the Imperial Palace,
Shengyang, Liaoning Province, China.
October 2002

Daughter Sarah Zheng-Kang

Daughter Faith Fu Ju

We celebrate their Chinese culture!

Here are some photos of Chinese Heritage Camp 2004 in Denver, Colorado. Marcia was invited to teach a class for adoptive parents - at the request of Dick Fischer, Editor of Adoption Today magazine. Marcia has written articles and poems for Adoption Today.

Marcia teaches a class to adoptive parents at Chinese Heritage Camp in Denver, Colorado.

Hubby, Ed (Right)
What a BaBa (Chinese for Daddy) will do for his daughters!

Ed (2nd from left) dances with other BaBa (Dads) at Chinese Heritage Camp.

2012 is the year of the Dragon.

 It is the rén-chén壬辰 year (Water Dragon)

Chinese New Year (CNY 2012) - Year of the Dragon

The date for the Chinese New Year in 2012 is January 23rd. (CNY 2012)

The Significance of the Chinese Dragon

Chinese around the world, proudly proclaim themselves "Lung Tik Chuan Ren" which may be translated as Descendents of the Dragon. Unlike the evil associated with Western Dragons, most Eastern Dragons are beautiful, friendly, and wise. They are the angels of the Orient. Instead of being hated, they are loved.

Chinese dragons have a horse's head and a snake's body. Often they have four jaws. Chinese dragons are divided into Heavenly Dragons, Earthly Dragons and Dragons in water. The most well-known dragons are the Four Sea Dragon Kings governing the east, south, west, north side of the sea. These Four Sea Dragon Kings are in charge of creating clouds and rains for human world. Chinese people do not call a water faucet a tap, but a "Water Dragon Head".

The dragon is regarded as the symbol of the Chinese nation and can be seen everywhere in its culture: including literature, architecture, art, furniture and even clothing.

Dragon Folklore

Dragons are an important part of many Chinese festivals, including Chinese New Year.

In ancient China, dragons did not breathe fire. Dragons were wise and caring. They guarded the wind, the rain, the rivers, precious metals and gems.

Many countries use dragons in their art, especially China, Korea and Japan. It's easy to tell the difference between Chinese, Korean and Japanese dragons. Just count the dragon's toes. Of course, you have to get really close. Sometimes it looks as if they have three toes, when they really have fivc, because some are hidden from sight.

Chinese dragons have five toes.

Korean dragons have four toes

Japanese dragons have three toes

Legend of the Dragon

The farther dragons travel from their home in China, the more toes they lose.

when wandering dragons return home to China, all their missing toes grow back.