The beginnings of the Chinese calendar can be traced back to the 14^th century B.C.E. Legend has it that the Emperor Huangdi invented the calendar in 2673 B.C.E.

The Chinese calendar is based on exact astronomical observations of the longitude of the sun and the phases of the moon. It is year 4710 in the Chinese calendar, and today marks the start of the lunar year of the dragon. The dragon in the Chinese zodiac is the highest regarded sign; it is the only mythical character, rather than an animal as in the eleven others of the dozen-year cycle. The dragon is said to represent wealth, wisdom, courage and power due to this many Chinese couples will be planning for a child this year, and we could see the start of a baby-boom in hospitals across Asia with large ethnic-Chinese populations and those in China especially. It is said that couples have until about May 2^nd to conceive to ensure their child is born before the year of the dragon draws to a close on February the 9^th 2013.

In past dragon years 1988 and 2000 the numbers of babies born in the city-state spiked by around 10%, which is a stark contrast compared with the declining birth rate during the years between.

The dragon is considered as a most sacred animal, and was used as the imperial emblem of Chinese emperors. The dragon is the first of the four divine creatures, the others being the unicorn, phoenix and the tortoise.

As imagined by the Chinese the dragon has the head of a camel, the horns of a deer, fiery eyes, ears of a cow, paws like a tiger, with claws as sharp as an eagles, it’s neck is like that of a serpent, with the belly of a frog and scales of a carp all finished nicely with a long beard. Quite the being I’m sure you will agree.  

To all our Chinese following – Gung hay fat choy

For our far more prominent English following this means ‘best wishes and congratulations. Have a prosperous and good year.’