Dragon and Lion dances are one of the most common festive events during Chinese New Year. With their spectacularly vivid colours, they are definitely an invigorating sight of Chinese New Year.
Why is the dragon (lóng, 龙) so popular among Chinese people? Dragons are born from people’s imagination and are deeply rooted in Chinese culture. Chinese people often consider themselves 'the descendants of the dragon'. Nobody really knows where the concept of the dragon come from, and the dragon is all the more mysterious as it is a combination of many animals.
In China, the dragons are credited with great powers that allow them to make rain and control floods, walk on land, swim under water and fly in the sky. They symbolize the natural world, adaptability, and transformation.
In ancient China nobody had any doubts about the existence of dragons and showed great respect for any dragon depicted in pictures, carvings, and writings, and as a result the dragon became the symbol of the Chinese nation and its spiritual sustenance. The Chinese dragon is regarded as the ultimate symbol of good fortune.
Instructions for making a festive paper dragon
1. Cut all the dragon parts you need as shown in the picture.
2. Stick all the parts according to the model dragon face.
3. Use two 60cm long border paper to make the dragon’s body
a. Stick the two ends together first
b. Repeatedly fold the two borders until the end
c. Cut them so they are even and stick the ends together.
4. Cut out 4 or 5 thin strips (different colours)
a. Press one end with scissors and pull out the strip forcefully, as shown in the picture, then your dragon’s tail is finished.
b. Be careful with this step and ask for an adult’s help!
5. Stick the dragon body on the top back of the face, then stick the curled colourful tail on the end of the body.
If you are interested in Chinese culture, why not learn the language? You can find out more about the Confucius Institute Chinese language courses here.