Chinese New Year 2024: Google Doodle marks festivities with ‘mythical beast’ artwork

“Lunar New Year traditions originated thousands of years ago with a legend about a mythical beast that appeared each year to torment people," Google Doodle says

Published on: Feb 10, 2024, 10:08:18 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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Google Doodle marked the Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year, on Saturday, February 10. The day starts with the first new moon of the Lunar calendar. After 15 days, it wraps with the first full moon of the year appearing.

Malaysian ethnic Chinese pray on the first day of Lunar New Year's holidays at a temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) (AP)

2024 is the Year of the Dragon, as the Google Doodle artwork shows. According to Google Doodle’s website, it represents “strength, health, and good luck.”

“Lunar New Year traditions originated thousands of years ago with a legend about a mythical beast that appeared each year to torment people. Families covered their doors in red paper, left lanterns on overnight, and set off fireworks to ward off the beast,” the website says.

“Today, many red lanterns can be seen hanging in neighborhoods. It’s also popular to gift money in red envelopes to the youngest and oldest people within communities and families,” it adds.

Most of Asia holds a sumptuous feast on Chinese New Year, a day when red lanterns, firecrackers and decorations light up not just China, but places across the globe. Closets fill up with new clothes, families hold gatherings and loved ones come closer. For many, the most special part of the day is enjoying a meal with their close ones. The meals generally differ according to families’ different customs.

The dragon holds an important place as an auspicious creature in Chinese culture. The beast symbolises power, nobility, honour, luck, and success. It is the belief of Chinese people that the starting of a new year affects one’s luck in the coming days.

The dragon is the fifth animal sign in the Chinese zodiac cycle. Your Chinese zodiac sign is dragon if you were born in 2024, 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952.

Chinese element theory says each zodiac sign is associated with one of five elements – Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, or Earth. Therefore, there are five types of dragons – Wood Dragon, Fire Dragon, Earth Dragon, Gold Dragon and Water Dragon. Each has its own characteristics.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

Lunar New Year

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