After the Jewish New Year (September 28th, 2011), the Islamic New Year (November 14th, 2011), the Gregorian New Year (January 1st, 2012) and the Berber New Year (January 13th, 2012), we will now celebrate the Chinese New Year, or rather, Mallorca’s Chinese population will. January 23rd is the date according to the Lunar calendar and the New Moon, but, our Asian friends will, for practical purposes, hold their celebrations today and tomorrow. An estimated 8,000 Chinese nationals live amongst us, here in Mallorca, and a few hundred (or a few thousand?) Koreans, Japanese, Vietnamese, Indonesians, Filipinos and Malaysians will join in the festivities.

The Chinese New Year is dedicated to the Dragon, one of twelve animals making up the Chinese calendar. In Eastern philosophy, the Dragon is said to be a deliverer of good fortune and a master of authority. Our Chinese friends have high expectations of the Year of the Dragon. In mainland China, the Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival. There, the holiday spans two weeks until the next Full Moon but, not here in Mallorca.

The photo was taken in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain. The date: January 15th, 2012. The time was 14:05:26