The Chinese Dragon Puppet
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The Chinese dragon has a big significance in the Chinese history and culture. The Chinese dragoon could signify a lot of things. It is therefore not a wonder how much a part the dragon is in many Chinese celebrations. For each of the celebrations dragon puppets are made in order to represent the presence of the dragon in the aim to accumulate good fortune. Chinese dragon puppets are made so they can be used in the dragon dances as well.
The power attributed to the Chinese dragon is so tremendous. Because of this, the dragon is being honored as a part of the many celebrations in the Chinese culture. The Chinese dragon is always a part of the ceremonies especially when people want to ask for good fortune.
The most common celebration in which the Chinese dragon is largely a part of is the Chinese New Year. One of the most popular elements of the Chinese New Year celebration is the dragon dance. The dragon dance consists of dragon puppets. The dragon puppets are usually made of cloth and wood. And the puppets are usually controlled by a team of people using wooden poles. What makes the dragon dance so nice to watch are the attractive and colorful dragon puppets that are made every year. It is also usually accompanied by drums and music so people really enjoy watching it.
The Chinese dragon represents blessing and power. The power to control and change weather for example, is one thing that dragons are believed to have. That’s why people also offer such ceremonies to them. People would ask for rain during a drought. And people would also ask for the rain to stop when their place is flooded.
This tradition has been brought to the present day. It is even taught in schools so that student will have an awareness of the Chinese culture. Chinese mythology and puppetry has become a part of the curriculum in many schools. With this development, more people and children have come to appreciate what the Chinese dragon signifies. Dragon puppets are not only made for the Chinese New Year parade but more and more people have begun to make dragon puppets for other occasions and even just for fun.
When businesses open, a dragon dance would be held for good luck and good fortune. Life size dragon puppets would be made and used during the dance. People are not only there for the ceremony but many are also there for the entertainment since dragon puppets are known for their attractive colors. Dragon parades have also become a great entertainment with drums and music accompaniment and the great skills of the puppeteers.
Dragon puppets have become popular that they are even sold now in stores and on the internet. Dragon puppet materials are widely available for children and adults alike too. Many buy them for good luck and others just for playing and fun. The sizes vary from miniature sizes to bigger ones. Others would also prefer making their own dragon puppets with cheaper materials. But whatever materials they use, one thing dragon puppets have in common is the attractive colors they are made of.
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