[ad_1]
The upcoming Lunar New Yr is the Yr of the Dragon and 2024 is related to wooden, which hits near dwelling for a Colwood man.
From a sketch, to within the flesh, the 12-foot labour of affection took retired trainer Dave Citra round 4,000 hours throughout 20 years.
“It’s all western crimson cedar, which I’m allergic to,” mentioned Citra.
Each single scale was hand-sanded and scorching glued collectively. A feat of engineering as a lot as it’s an artwork piece.
“I by no means purchased a single piece of wooden. It was all junk that was within the scrap bin,” mentioned Citra.
Citra is unveiling his wood dragon on a becoming week. Saturday is Lunar New Year, and this upcoming yr is the Yr of the Dragon: a wooden dragon, the place the weather are involved.
“The subsequent yr of the dragon I’ll be 135, so I assumed this was the time,” mentioned Citra with a smile.
In Victoria’s Chinatown, preparations are underway.
“Folks need their infants born within the dragon yr, it’s a most essential mythological being it’s an indication of charisma, it’s an indication of braveness, the signal of management,” mentioned Charlayne Thornton-Joe with the Chinese language Canadian Museum.
“Lots of people are cleansing their properties. You don’t wish to begin the brand new yr with a grimy dwelling, you’ll attempt to pay as many money owed as you may, you enhance in crimson as a result of crimson symbolizes good luck.”
Mandarin oranges, with the leaves intact as an emblem of spring and new beginnings are being purchased, together with Chinese language grapefruit, rooster, entire fish, and many noodles.
“Meals is essential. You might begin your day with a very vegetarian meals since you don’t wish to begin the yr with taking a life,” mentioned Thornton-Joe.
The capital area can be internet hosting lion dances all through the weekend, however for the oldest Chinatown in Canada, their primary lion dance is 2 weeks from now, on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 11:30 a.m.
This weekend the Chinese language Canadian Museum in Fan Tan Alley can be open with particular tastings of dragons beard and lychee fruit and a studying from creator Julie Lawson who wrote the novel White Jade Tiger.
The Yr of the Dragon, the wood dragon, is a yr regarded as characterised by generosity and care.
READ MORE FROM 2023: Chinese New Year celebrations to take over Chinatown in Victoria Sunday
[ad_2]
Source link