Well folks, it’s that time of the year again! Time to appreciate the dragons in your life—whether they be pets, companions, mentors, or enemies, these reptilian creatures are a valuable part of our life and imaginations. And this year is especially special because 2012, according to the Chinese calendar, is the Year of the Dragon—so not only do our draconic friends get a day in their honor, this year they get 366! (Because it’s also leap year. :) )
History of Appreciate a Dragon Day
Appreciate a Dragon Day is perhaps better known by its ancient name An-Diugh Ùmhlachd Arach, which roughly translates to “the day of honoring dragons,” though the word for ‘honoring’ has interesting connotations of tribute and obedience other than just respect, and it is feminine in form. An-Diugh Ùmhlachd Arach was usually celebrated in mid-January to early February, as this is in the middle of the dragons’ dormant season. In most countries in the northern hemisphere, the winter months are too cold for even a fire-breathing creature, and most dragons will hunker down in a cozy hideaway to wait out the chill. Unfortunately, dragons are such gregarious creatures that these months of isolation can be painfully lonely for them. An-Diugh Ùmhlachd Arach provided a time for the dragons’ friends to stop by and relieve the dragons’ loneliness a bit with gifts and games and singing and laughter. In olden times, this was also a day for the people who lived in areas populated by dragons to bring gifts to their local draco amicus and renew any treaties that may have been made in previous years. Occasionally, the custom was used by unscrupulous dragons to exact a sort of protection toll from the people, but such tyrants rarely lasted long, as both knights wishing to earn their spurs and fellow dragons wanting to keep the peace usually intervened before too much damage had been done.
An-Diugh Ùmhlachd Arach fell out of fashion for nearly a hundred years, as dragon populations in Europe and Asia shrank and many dragons relocated to the unpopulated regions of the world in an attempt to escape folks who thought that the creatures were a threat. However, within the last twenty years or so, dragons have begun moving back into populated lands. In 2004, Mrs. Donita K. Paul—a well-known expert on dragons who discovered an entirely new breed, which she writes about in her excellent books, The DragonKeeper Chronicles—brought An-Diugh Ùmhlachd Arach back into the public eye as “Appreciate a Dragon Day,” to be celebrated on January 16th every year. While many folks have never had the pleasure—and perhaps never will—of meeting one of these creatures, as they still tend to stick to rural areas and keep to themselves, Appreciate a Dragon Day is a growing part of the culture. One can only hope that as dragons reintegrate themselves into modern human society, Appreciate a Dragon Day will regain the prominence it once enjoyed.
How to Celebrate Appreciate a Dragon Day
Observing this celebration is easy and will not harm your pocketbook (most gifts you could buy your dragon friend, he or she would not really be interested in; and what he or she would be interested, you can’t afford.) Dragons enjoy company more than material goods, so take the day off to go and hang out with your draconic pal. You might watch a movie together—Pete’s Dragon is always a favorite, as are George and the Dragon, How to Train Your Dragon, Dragonheart, Mulan, and The Never-Ending Story. (Warning: some dragons enjoy pointing out every error about their kind in such movies, so this activity may require some patience.)
You could also read a book, if your friend doesn’t tend to shoot flame when he or she is excited. Cornelia Funke’s Dragon Rider is an excellent choice, as is the Inheritance cycle by Christopher Paolini, the Dragon Slippers trilogy by Jessica Day George, and—naturally—the DragonKeeper Chronicles, by Donita K. Paul.
If you don’t personally know a dragon, show your appreciation by making a craft or writing a poem or story about these magnificent creatures. You can make a dragon picture using the templates here or here, or there are instructions on:
Origami dragons: here
Stuffed dragons: here or here (I’ve made the one labeled “bean bag dragon”—with my own adaptations—many times. As in, about two dozen.)
Knitted and/or crocheted dragons: crocheted, knitted, or otherwise knitted
Or even a dragon cake!!
And of course, you can always read a book or watch a movie even without a scaly friend.
However you choose to celebrate Appreciate a Dragon Day this year, I encourage you to enjoy this fun and fantastic holiday. Happy Appreciate a Dragon Day, everyone!!
~The Traveler
History of Appreciate a Dragon Day
Appreciate a Dragon Day is perhaps better known by its ancient name An-Diugh Ùmhlachd Arach, which roughly translates to “the day of honoring dragons,” though the word for ‘honoring’ has interesting connotations of tribute and obedience other than just respect, and it is feminine in form. An-Diugh Ùmhlachd Arach was usually celebrated in mid-January to early February, as this is in the middle of the dragons’ dormant season. In most countries in the northern hemisphere, the winter months are too cold for even a fire-breathing creature, and most dragons will hunker down in a cozy hideaway to wait out the chill. Unfortunately, dragons are such gregarious creatures that these months of isolation can be painfully lonely for them. An-Diugh Ùmhlachd Arach provided a time for the dragons’ friends to stop by and relieve the dragons’ loneliness a bit with gifts and games and singing and laughter. In olden times, this was also a day for the people who lived in areas populated by dragons to bring gifts to their local draco amicus and renew any treaties that may have been made in previous years. Occasionally, the custom was used by unscrupulous dragons to exact a sort of protection toll from the people, but such tyrants rarely lasted long, as both knights wishing to earn their spurs and fellow dragons wanting to keep the peace usually intervened before too much damage had been done.
An-Diugh Ùmhlachd Arach fell out of fashion for nearly a hundred years, as dragon populations in Europe and Asia shrank and many dragons relocated to the unpopulated regions of the world in an attempt to escape folks who thought that the creatures were a threat. However, within the last twenty years or so, dragons have begun moving back into populated lands. In 2004, Mrs. Donita K. Paul—a well-known expert on dragons who discovered an entirely new breed, which she writes about in her excellent books, The DragonKeeper Chronicles—brought An-Diugh Ùmhlachd Arach back into the public eye as “Appreciate a Dragon Day,” to be celebrated on January 16th every year. While many folks have never had the pleasure—and perhaps never will—of meeting one of these creatures, as they still tend to stick to rural areas and keep to themselves, Appreciate a Dragon Day is a growing part of the culture. One can only hope that as dragons reintegrate themselves into modern human society, Appreciate a Dragon Day will regain the prominence it once enjoyed.
How to Celebrate Appreciate a Dragon Day
Observing this celebration is easy and will not harm your pocketbook (most gifts you could buy your dragon friend, he or she would not really be interested in; and what he or she would be interested, you can’t afford.) Dragons enjoy company more than material goods, so take the day off to go and hang out with your draconic pal. You might watch a movie together—Pete’s Dragon is always a favorite, as are George and the Dragon, How to Train Your Dragon, Dragonheart, Mulan, and The Never-Ending Story. (Warning: some dragons enjoy pointing out every error about their kind in such movies, so this activity may require some patience.)
You could also read a book, if your friend doesn’t tend to shoot flame when he or she is excited. Cornelia Funke’s Dragon Rider is an excellent choice, as is the Inheritance cycle by Christopher Paolini, the Dragon Slippers trilogy by Jessica Day George, and—naturally—the DragonKeeper Chronicles, by Donita K. Paul.
If you don’t personally know a dragon, show your appreciation by making a craft or writing a poem or story about these magnificent creatures. You can make a dragon picture using the templates here or here, or there are instructions on:
Origami dragons: here
Stuffed dragons: here or here (I’ve made the one labeled “bean bag dragon”—with my own adaptations—many times. As in, about two dozen.)
Knitted and/or crocheted dragons: crocheted, knitted, or otherwise knitted
Or even a dragon cake!!
And of course, you can always read a book or watch a movie even without a scaly friend.
However you choose to celebrate Appreciate a Dragon Day this year, I encourage you to enjoy this fun and fantastic holiday. Happy Appreciate a Dragon Day, everyone!!
~The Traveler
3 comments:
I don't think I've loved on my dragon much since I stopped being an apprentice wizardess in Narnia. I'd better dig out my gryphon, too. Forget about watching Pete's Dragon; we'll sing through it together! And we can make a bonfire out of the Inheritance Cycle! (Heh heh. Sorry, fans.)
Thanks for the reminder.
'Ello! It's been awhile, so I've tagged you. See my blog for details. I hope you get a chance soon!
Anna
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