Dragon Drags the World In
By Antoaneta BeckerLONDON, Jan 20, 2012 (IPS) - Chinese fengshui masters have been busy advising edgy followers how to optimise their luck in the auspicious but volatile Year of the Dragon, which according to the lunar calendar begins on Jan.23. In the West though, Chinese superstitions about the precarious nature of Dragon years don’t hold court, and 2012 will arguably mark the largest by far Chinese New Year celebrations in many world capitals and major cities.
Lavish celebrations in London, Liverpool, Hawaii and Vancouver follow long and well established traditions set by large Chinese communities. In recent years though, in a slight nod to China’s rise and its omnipresent clout, the festivities marking the beginning of Chinese New Year are spreading beyond local Chinese communities and becoming hip events to draw diverse crowds.
"Celebrations in London have certainly grown and now claim to be the largest celebrations outside Asia," says Theresa Booth, director of the London Chopsticks Club, which promotes cultural exchanges between Britain and China. "The celebrations are listed as a special event on the Visit London website, which suggests they see it as a way of tapping into the ever growing interest in China and attracting more tourists to London." More Here: CHINA: Dragon Drags the World In - IPS ipsnews.net
