February in Jacksonville means it’s time to celebrate Chinese New Year. On the Chinese zodiac calendar, 2012 is the Year of the Dragon, considered to be the luckiest of years! In Chinese astrology, the dragon is especially revered and represents a symbol of power, superiority and wisdom. Those born in dragon years are thought to be doers and achievers—they tend to be stand-outs and get things done! Despite a reputation for being demanding and having an occasional temper, dragons go the extra mile in everything they do—from work, education and projects.
From my view, I’m betting the majority of volunteers associated with the Chinese New Year celebration from SOCCA—the Southern Oregon Chinese Cultural Association and the J’Ville Chamber of Commerce were born in dragon years! The Review thanks all of them for the incredible amount of work they do to bring a very special event to town that celebrates Jacksonville’s Chinese heritage and cultural ties. We are grateful to Jeanena Whitewilson and Chelsea Rose for penning a wonderful cover story about recent archeological digs that are shedding more light on Chinese history and its relevance to modern-day Jacksonville.
Finally, we are again pleased to publish a complete schedule of CNY events including the downtown parade, the 5k Fun Run, demonstrations, classes, lectures, children’s activities and much, much more. More information is available on our website here and www.socca.us.
This month, join us in celebrating the Year of the Dragon in our Small Town with Big Atmosphere!