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 ontrary to
commercial spin, rabbits do not keep going and going. The rabbit that
presided over the fortunes of Lunar Year 4697 must step out of the spotlight
and return to his warren for 11 years of exile. There's a new kid in Chinatown,
and he arrives with fire on his breath.
The Year of the Dragon, 4698,
began on February 5. If you are turning 12, 24, 36, 48, etc. after the 5th,
this is your year. Dragon years are the most propitious in the lunar cycle.
In China, a record number of births
are expected because couples wait for this lucky year to have children.
Dragons are complex creatures.
The English word comes from the Greek drakon, meaning "to look at"
or "to watch." In Western classical legend, dragons watched over things --
the golden apples of Hesperides or the fountain of Dirce. In Western romantic
legends, dragons guarded captive ladies. Literally, the Year of the Dragon can
be taken as an important time to "look at yourself."
In China, dragons are perceived
differently, representing creativity, energy and power. Chinese dragons are
human allies, not threats. They represent good fortune, and those born under
the dragon sign are generous, determined and extroverted. Shun, 9th Emperor
of the Chou dynasty, bestowed nobility upon Tung Fu, for his great skill at
attracting dragons to the imperial barn by giving them the foods they craved.
Soups and stews are favorite
foods for the Year of the Dragon.
Another dish cherished every New
Year is lo han jai in which rare delicacies, such as gingko nuts,
lotus roots, lily stems and seaweed hair, are brewed together only on very
special occasions.
Gift giving and food are the
heart and soul of New Year's celebrations and tea, an earth element, is a
popular New Year's gift. Teas which have ball-shaped leaves are symbolically
cherished, as they represent the unending circle of life. This year, however,
teas that recall the dragon are also in demand.
Holy Mountain recommends some
teas with "dragon" in their names: Snow Dragon,
a perennial favorite; Dragon Phoenix Pearl
and Curled Dragon
Silver Tip, famous jasmine teas; and of course Dragon Well,
a greeen tea from the west lake Zhejiang province and one of the best teas
in all China.
These teas are prized for prized
for practical reasons, too. They are high in antioxidants, which fortify the
body's immune system. They have high mineral content, plus vitamin C and
floride. Chinese teas fight infections, help digestion, and assist in
weight loss.
It is interesting Dragon
Well tea comes from eastern China, where climate and history created a natural
coincidence of drought with belief in a fire-breathing dragon. One ancient
city, Lyoyang, is famous for its Dragon Gate caves and for its "water dinner."
This feast, with a 1,400-year tradition, includes 24 dishes made with precious
water, which may account for the idea that soups and stews are most appropriate
to the Year of the Dragon.
Shirley Fong-Torres is a reporter for the San Francisco Examiner in San Francisco, California.
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