恭喜发财

Happy Chinese New Year and welcome to the year of the Dragon.  You would think that such a legendary creature would be the most appropriate symbol for such an apocalyptic annum, but you would be inaccurately assuming.  The Dragon is a symbol of good fortune and sign of intense power, the Oriental Dragon is regarded as a divine beast - the reverse of the malicious monster that Westerners felt necessary to find and slay.  In Eastern philosophy, the Dragon is said to be a deliverer of good fortune and a master of authority. Therefore, those people born in Dragon years are to be honored and respected.  It is considered to be the most fortuitous of years in the Chinese Zodiac.  Let's hope those Chinese know what they're talking about - or else we are in for a fiery year.  I'm off to get a fortune cookie, and a fire extinguisher - just in case.