I recently discovered (through friends on Facebook) that 1/16 is Appreciate a Dragon Day — an excellent occasion, in my view. How do I appreciate my dragon? Let me count the ways.
One, dragons have picked up a ton of gay vibes (there are lots of rainbow dragons around, many on the cute side, but some fierce), and I am way gay; two, a Year of the Dragon is the upcoming year (beginning on 2/10/24) in the 12-year cycle of the lunar calendar and I am in fact a dragon, born in the dragon year 1940; and three, since dragons are (fanciful) gigantic serpents, they are natural phallic symbols, really big and powerful penises (the objects of my desire), frequently with wings, and that means they slot right into my sexual fantasies. Il y a un dragon dans mon lit!
(#1) On the kisspng images site: a rainbow Chinese dragon, by Oluoko
Lexical note 1. From NOAD:
noun dragon: 1 [a] a mythical monster resembling a giant reptile, sometimes shown as having wings. In European tradition the dragon is typically fire-breathing and tends to symbolize chaos or evil, whereas in East Asia it is usually a beneficent symbol of fertility, associated with water and the heavens. …
Some associations of the Dragon zodiac sign, from the China Highlights site, “Year of the Dragon 2024: Meaning, Predictions for 12 Signs” by Cynthia Li on 1/18/24:
(#2) The zodiac Dragon (Wikipedia image)People born in Dragon years usually possess natural courage, tenacity, and intelligence, often displaying enthusiasm and confidence.
In Chinese culture, the Dragon holds a significant place as an auspicious and extraordinary creature, unparalleled in talent and excellence. It symbolizes power, nobility, honor, luck, and success.
Dragonhood turns out to have real current relevance. From the NDTV World site, “Will “Dragon Babies” Fix China’s Population Crisis? What Experts Say: 2024 is the Year of the Dragon according to Chinese calendar, and locals believe more births are recorded during this time” by Amit Chaturvedi on 1/19/24:
People in China are hoping that 2024 could offer some respite from the declining birth rate that has plagued the country for year. The reason: This is the Year of The Dragon, which is thought to be very favourable year to have children. According to a report in Financial Times, parents try to time the births of their offspring with an auspicious zodiac sign.
… In China, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong, “dragon babies” (those born in the Year of the Dragon) have traditionally been believed to have been imbued with … luck.
(among other good qualities).
Lexical note 2. From GDoS:
noun dragon-4: (US) a (large) penis [cites: 1989 Pam Munro, Slang U.; Ken Cage, Gayle: the language of kinks and queens: a history and dictionary of gay language in South Africa, defined as ‘gigantic penis’] [also note its use in drain the anaconda / dragon / lizard … / snake ‘urinate’]
Appreciate a Dragon Day. From the National Today site on Appreciate a Dragon Day,
celebrated annually on January 16. With loud flapping wings, flaming breath, and steely scales, dragons are viewed as unstoppable masters of chaos. However, they are also presented as tamable and friendly creatures that can be great buddies with humans. This day is set to encourage people worldwide to appreciate the history and socio-cultural significance of the mythical creatures.
… Appreciate a Dragon Day was created in 2004 by Donita K. Paul. The author was promoting the release of her novel “DragonSpell,” which is part one of a five-book series. The book is about a former slave that changes her fate and is the savior of dragons. It is a celebration of dragons in literature, as well as literacy in general and pop culture.
Dragons and the gay connection. I don’t know the history here, but there’s a big market in rainbow-dragon images and fantasies. From an enormous trove of material. From which I pick out just one artwork, Two Dragons in Love, for sale on Etsy:
(#3) Art by by Crazy Cuckoo
There are, of course, depictions of rainbow dragons engaged in sexual congress.
There is a Dragon in My Bed; Il y a un Dragon dans Mon Lit: And Other Useful Phrases in French and English for Young Ladies and Gentlemen Going Abroad or Staying at Home by Sesyle Joslin (author) and Irene Haas (illustrator) (1961)
Despite the main title, which is only there to get your attention, the book actually offers useful French phrases for young travelers.