Dragon Descending to Earth: View the 2024 Symbol Photo Gallery

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According to Chinese astrology, each year has its own master - a creature that embodies the period and endows it with certain qualities. 2024 will be the year of the Wood Dragon, which symbolizes power, nobility, honor, luck and success.
The Dragon, which takes center stage in 2024, is the only mythical creature of the Zodiac and it is considered one of the most energetic and powerful creatures.
Dragons serve as a collective term for various mythical creatures found in the myths and folklore of numerous cultures worldwide. The perceptions of dragons vary significantly from region to another. For example, European dragons were often portrayed as having a massive serpentine body, wings, horns, four legs, and the ability to breathe fire.
In Eastern cultures, like the Chinese, dragons are typically depicted as wingless, four-legged creatures with long, serpentine bodies. Folk tales describe them as possessing great intelligence and wisdom, often associated with water sources and rain.
Dragons also make appearances in the tales of African cultures, where these creatures are attributed magical powers and portrayed as spirits or giant snakes.
Explore Sputnik Africa's gallery showcasing photos of the symbol for the upcoming year!
© AFP 2023 Ye Aung Thu

A fire breather blows flames as a troupe performs a traditional dragon dance during the first day of Chinese Lunar New Year in Yangon's Chinatown district on January 28, 2017. This Lunar New Year marks the start of the Year of the Rooster.

A fire breather blows flames as a troupe performs a traditional dragon dance during the first day of Chinese Lunar New Year in Yangon's Chinatown district on January 28, 2017. This Lunar New Year marks the start of the Year of the Rooster.  - Sputnik Africa
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A fire breather blows flames as a troupe performs a traditional dragon dance during the first day of Chinese Lunar New Year in Yangon's Chinatown district on January 28, 2017. This Lunar New Year marks the start of the Year of the Rooster.

© AFP 2023 Joel Saget

Lea, 25, a human resources manager, poses to show her tattoo during a photo session on February 24, 2020, in Paris. The 10th edition of the "Mondial du Tatouage" tattoo convention is held from March 13 to 15, 2020, in Paris.

Lea, 25, a human resources manager, poses to show her tattoo during a photo session on February 24, 2020, in Paris. The 10th edition of the "Mondial du Tatouage" tattoo convention is held from March 13 to 15, 2020, in Paris.  - Sputnik Africa
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Lea, 25, a human resources manager, poses to show her tattoo during a photo session on February 24, 2020, in Paris. The 10th edition of the "Mondial du Tatouage" tattoo convention is held from March 13 to 15, 2020, in Paris.

© AP Photo / Greg Baker

A Chinese man cycles past a float, featuring a dragon head, that was used earlier in the week during performances to celebrate the Hong Kong handover, outside Beijing's Workers Stadium Friday July 4, 1997.

A Chinese man cycles past a float, featuring a dragon head, that was used earlier in the week during performances to celebrate the Hong Kong handover, outside Beijing's Workers Stadium Friday July 4, 1997.  - Sputnik Africa
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A Chinese man cycles past a float, featuring a dragon head, that was used earlier in the week during performances to celebrate the Hong Kong handover, outside Beijing's Workers Stadium Friday July 4, 1997.

© Sputnik . Vitaliy Ankov / Go to the mediabank

The Far Eastern Federal University cheerleading team performs at the 85th anniversary of the Primorsky Krai on Vladivostok's central square. Celebrations are held in all districts of the region.

The Far Eastern Federal University cheerleading team performs at the 85th anniversary of the Primorsky Krai on Vladivostok's central square. Celebrations are held in all districts of the region. - Sputnik Africa
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The Far Eastern Federal University cheerleading team performs at the 85th anniversary of the Primorsky Krai on Vladivostok's central square. Celebrations are held in all districts of the region.

© AFP 2023 Oli Scarff

Laci Endresz Jr., who performs as Mooky the Clown in The Blackpool Tower Circus, poses for a photograph as he constructs a dragon circus prop in his workshop in Blackpool, northern England on January 16, 2023. The dragon, one of three being created by Laci, will feature in The Blackpool Tower Circus' show finale - floating on water whilst being ridden by circus performers and breathing smoke from its nostrils.

Laci Endresz Jr., who performs as Mooky the Clown in The Blackpool Tower Circus, poses for a photograph as he constructs a dragon circus prop in his workshop in Blackpool, northern England on January 16, 2023. The dragon, one of three being created by Laci, will feature in The Blackpool Tower Circus' show finale - floating on water whilst being ridden by circus performers and breathing smoke from its nostrils.  - Sputnik Africa
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Laci Endresz Jr., who performs as Mooky the Clown in The Blackpool Tower Circus, poses for a photograph as he constructs a dragon circus prop in his workshop in Blackpool, northern England on January 16, 2023. The dragon, one of three being created by Laci, will feature in The Blackpool Tower Circus' show finale - floating on water whilst being ridden by circus performers and breathing smoke from its nostrils.

© AFP 2023 Nhac Nguyen

A woman rides a bicycle on Dragon Bridge in Danang on June 24, 2023.

A woman rides a bicycle on Dragon Bridge in Danang on June 24, 2023. - Sputnik Africa
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A woman rides a bicycle on Dragon Bridge in Danang on June 24, 2023.

© AP Photo / Junji Kurokawa

Canadian professional Origami artist Joseph Wu holds his favorite work of paper folding art dragon.

Canadian professional Origami artist Joseph Wu holds his favorite work of  paper folding art dragon. - Sputnik Africa
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Canadian professional Origami artist Joseph Wu holds his favorite work of paper folding art dragon.

© AP Photo / Sakchai Lalit

A customer uses a mobile phone while sitting with a cartoon dragon dolls the restaurant uses as space keepers for social distancing to help curb the spread of the coronavirus at shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, May 18, 2020.

A customer uses a mobile phone while sitting with a cartoon dragon dolls the restaurant uses as space keepers for social distancing to help curb the spread of the coronavirus at shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, May 18, 2020.  - Sputnik Africa
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A customer uses a mobile phone while sitting with a cartoon dragon dolls the restaurant uses as space keepers for social distancing to help curb the spread of the coronavirus at shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, May 18, 2020.

© AP Photo / Schalk van Zuydam

A performer in a dragon costume takes part in the Cape Town Carnival parade held in the city of Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, March 12 2016.

A performer in a dragon costume takes part in the Cape Town Carnival parade held in the city of Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, March 12 2016.  - Sputnik Africa
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A performer in a dragon costume takes part in the Cape Town Carnival parade held in the city of Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, March 12 2016.

© AP Photo / Ajit Solanki

A German competitor, right, flies his 16 meter long (52 foot) dragon shaped kite as people watch during the International Kite Festival in Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008.

A German competitor, right, flies his 16 meter long (52 foot) dragon shaped kite as people watch during the International Kite Festival in Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008.  - Sputnik Africa
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A German competitor, right, flies his 16 meter long (52 foot) dragon shaped kite as people watch during the International Kite Festival in Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008.

© AFP 2023 Valentine Chapuis

Operators drive the dragon-horse called Long-Ma, created by Francois de la Roziere and his company "La Machine", in the streets of Toulouse, southern France, on April 16, 2022.

Operators drive the dragon-horse called Long-Ma, created by Francois de la Roziere and his company "La Machine", in the streets of Toulouse, southern France, on April 16, 2022.  - Sputnik Africa
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Operators drive the dragon-horse called Long-Ma, created by Francois de la Roziere and his company "La Machine", in the streets of Toulouse, southern France, on April 16, 2022.

© AP Photo / Frank Augstein

Children dressed as a dragon performs during the parade to mark Chinese new year in Chinatown district in London, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018.

Children dressed as a dragon performs during the parade to mark Chinese new year in Chinatown district in London, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018. - Sputnik Africa
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Children dressed as a dragon performs during the parade to mark Chinese new year in Chinatown district in London, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018.

© AFP 2023 Antonio Scorza

A float of Uniao da Ilha samba school representing a dragon parades during the second night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro on February 20, 2012.

A float of Uniao da Ilha samba school representing a dragon parades during the second night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro on February 20, 2012.  - Sputnik Africa
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A float of Uniao da Ilha samba school representing a dragon parades during the second night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro on February 20, 2012.

© AFP 2023 Mladen Antonov

An aerial view taken on September 11, 2020 shows the Buddhist temple Wat Samphran (Dragon Temple) in Nakhon Pathom, some 40km west of Bangkok.

An aerial view taken on September 11, 2020 shows the Buddhist temple Wat Samphran (Dragon Temple) in Nakhon Pathom, some 40km west of Bangkok.  - Sputnik Africa
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An aerial view taken on September 11, 2020 shows the Buddhist temple Wat Samphran (Dragon Temple) in Nakhon Pathom, some 40km west of Bangkok.

© AP Photo / Damian Dovarganes

A Bearded dragon reptile is dressed up as a duck for the traditional blessing of animals ceremony at Placita Olvera downtown in Los Angeles Saturday, April 16, 2022.

A Bearded dragon reptile is dressed up as a duck for the traditional blessing of animals ceremony at Placita Olvera downtown in Los Angeles Saturday, April 16, 2022.  - Sputnik Africa
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A Bearded dragon reptile is dressed up as a duck for the traditional blessing of animals ceremony at Placita Olvera downtown in Los Angeles Saturday, April 16, 2022.

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