Dragons

Dragons are legendary animals, but they are important to Chinese people who think of dragons as helpful, friendly creatures. They are linked to good luck, long life and wisdom storm clouds and life-giving rain. Dragons have special powers so they can fly in the air, swim in the sea and walk on land. The Dragon has features of other animals such as the horns of a stag, the scales of a fish and the footpads of a tiger.

Dragon dances are performed at New Year to scare away evil spirits, during the dance, performers hold poles to raise and lower the Dragon. Sometimes one man has a 'Pearl of Wisdom' on a pole and he entices the Dragon to follow him to the beat of a drum, as if searching for wisdom and knowledge.

Dragons used in Dragon dances vary in length from a few metres to up to 100m long. Longer Dragons are thought to be more lucky than shorter ones. The dances can be performed either during the day or night, but at night a blazing torch will be carried to light the way. media type="youtube" key="4WUnWPpRslM" height="315" width="420"

Make a Chinese Dragon
This is to tell you how to make this brightly coloured Chinese Dragon in 3 easy steps. His flexible body will move up and down like the real thing and remember to give him a friendly face because Chinese Dragons aren't fierce fire-breathing creatures.

__You will need:__
2 strips of red and yellow or orange paper (75cm long and 3 cm wide) orange and green card yellow, white, red and orange paper a pencil sequins glue scissors What you do:
 * 1) Cut out the dragon's head shape from an 8cm by 8cm square of red paper.

2. Cut an 8cm by 3cm rectangle from a piece of green paper and snip wavy lines almost to the full length to make the dragon's beard. Glue the beard to the back of the chin of the dragon's head.


 * 1) Cut some teeth from white paper and stick them just above the beard. Cut out two eye shapes also from the white paper and glue them on together with further shapes, as in the photograph, to decorate the dragon's head. Add sequins for eyes and nostrils.

Find out how to [|make the body]and finish your Chinese dragon.

Chinese Zodiac
The Chinese zodiac follows a twelve year cycle, each of the years being named after an animal. The Chinese believe that people born in a particular year take on the characteristics of the animal associated with that year. ==Dragon== Confident, hardworking and always strive to be at the top. Full of energy, determined and will inspire other people. Don’t like routine and are excited by new projects. Show loyalty to friends, popular and fun-loving. The Dragon is the only mythical creature in the Chinese zodiac and is looked upon as the luckiest of all the animals.

Test Your Knowledge
Now test your knowledge with this crossword! media type="custom" key="18615926"