2022 is the year of the Tiger. The Tiger which is associated with strength, bravery, and exorcizing evils.
Chinese New Year's Day= (过年) in Chinese.
Chinese New Year Traditions
The main Chinese New Year activities include 1) putting up decorations, 2) offering sacrifices to ancestors, 3) eating reunion dinner with family on New Year's Eve, 4) giving red envelopes and other gifts, 5) firecrackers and fireworks, and 6) watching lion and dragon dances.
"Sometimes it is difficult for a modern reader to appreciate just how much ancient storytelling is rooting in ritual and myth, so that it becomes all too easy to dismiss the narratives as simplistic, poorly constructed and illogical, or even to see them as isolated fragments strung together without any coherent form or structure. Nothing could be further from the truth, for they are a powerful mode of transmitting sacred knowledge." Allison Roberts, HATHORS ALCHEMY
RACE YOU TO THE TOP OF THE MORNING, from the musical, "The Secret Garden." Lucy Simon, 1991 Original Broadway Cast
"When we left off last night The hideous dragon Had carried the maid to his cave by moonlight He gnashed his teeth, and breathed his fire The heath quaked, and we trembled in fear. I said someone must save this sweet raven-haired maiden, Though surely the cost will be steep. So we lads all drew lots, Our insides tied in knots, And I won, and the rest went to sleep. So, I picked up my staff, And I followed the trail Of his smoke To the mouth of the cave, And I bid him come out, Yea, forsooth, I did shout, Ye fool dragon be gone or behave! And then under my breath, I uttered a charm said To make the worst fiends become kind. Knaves and knights of dire plights, Now diminish his sights! And it worked and the dragon went blind. And he charged off the cliff Howling mad and he died, And the maiden accepted my ring. And then you came along, And were brave, bold, and strong, And in thanks, every night now I sing: Race you to the top of the morning! Come, sit on my shoulders and ride! Run and hide, I'll come and find you, Climb hills to remind you, I love you, my boy at my side! Now, another foul dragon's appeared, I must leave you. He's scorching our land with his breath. From his lair this one taunts me, He dares me, he haunts me. Once again, we must fight to the death! Would to God I could stay and instead slay your dragon, This beast who sits hunched on your back. Would God I could wrench him away from your bed, Or cut off or tear off his terrible head, Could breathe out my fire on him 'Till he was dead, Or beg him to spare you and take me instead! As it is I must leave you in care of my brother, The wizard, who lives on the hill, Who has promised his art, Will soon pierce through the heart Of this dragon that's keeping you ill. And I know that your mother, God bless her, Would want you to do as he says and grow strong. And you know that as soon as I can I'll return, So be brave, son and know that I long To race you to the top of the morning! Come, sit on my shoulders and ride. Run and hide, I'll come and find you, Climb hills to remind you I love you! I love you, my boy at my side!"
FOR A REAL TREAT, WATCH MANDY PATINKIN perform it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVrFX_i9HFk