According to the Chinese Zodiac, the year of 2012 is the Year of the Dragon which began on January 23 and ends February 9, 2013.

The dragon is the fifth sign of the Chinese Zodiac which consists of 12 animal signs.

In Chinese astrology, the dragon is the only animal of the Chinese Zodiac year that is not real.

The dragon is a creature of myth and legend. In ancient China, the celestial dragon represents an emperor. Today, it is the ultimate auspicious symbol signifying success and happiness.

In the Sung Dynasty, the dragon is described as having the head of an ox, the muzzle of a donkey, eyes of a shrimp, horns of a deer, body of a serpent covered with fish scales and feet of a phoenix.

Four thousand years ago, China was divided between two large and several smaller tribes. Each of the tribes had an animal as an emblem. The two large tribes unified and they chose the dragon as their symbol.

The Chinese Hans still call themselves the descendants of the Dragon.

The Chinese dragon was not seen as the threatening evil being as it is in the West – but rather as a symbol of power, superiority and rule.

Even today, the Chinese still associate the dragon with power and wisdom.

In Chinese astrology a person born in the Chinese Year of the Dragon is deemed special and is believed to possess the attributes associated to the mighty creature.

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