Key Points
- Some Lunar New Year celebrations this year are diverging from the traditional red decorations.
- According to the Korean zodiac, 2024 is the Year of the Blue Dragon, known as “gapjin” in the 60-year sexagenary cycle.
- In Eastwood, Sydney’s official ‘Koreatown’, a lantern festival will light up the streets in blue and red to symbolise unity and a fresh start in the new year.
For many people in Australia, Lunar New Year is associated with vibrant red decorations, which symbolise good luck, joy and happiness in Chinese culture.
This year, however, some events will take on enchanting hues of blue.
In the Sydney suburb of Eastwood, square-shaped lanterns adorned in a mix of red and blue will add a different touch to the traditional spectacle.
Square-shaped lanterns in a mix of red and blue colours in Eastwood, Sydney. Source: SBS / Leah Hyein Na
Out of the blue
The presence of the colour blue during this year’s Lunar New Year celebrations has its roots in Korean culture.
According to the Korean zodiac, every year is represented by one of 12 animals accompanied by a distinct colour, with 2024 being the Year of the Blue Dragon.
The sexagenary cycle, an ancient East Asian calendar that repeats every 60 years, comprises 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches, this cycle associates each element with directions and colours.
The year 2024 is identified as "gapjin", the 41st position in the cycle.
Drones lit up to create an image of a blue dragon over Cape Ganjeol, a coastal point where the sunrise can be viewed the earliest on the Korean Peninsula, on 1 January 2024, as part of festivities to mark the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac. Credit: YONHAP/EPA
The "gap" – representing the wood element, east, and blue – coupled with "jin", signifying dragon, designates the year as that of the blue dragon.
As the zodiac animal repeats every 12 years, 2012 was “imjin” or Year of the Black Dragon, and 2036 will be “Byeongjin”, or Year of the Red Dragon.
Visitors take pictures of an inflatable blue dragon in Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, 1 January 2024. Credit: YONHAP/EPA
Colourful zodiac marketing
While the Chinese community calls 2024 the Year of the Wood Dragon, Koreans have widely embraced the use of coloured zodiac animals, particularly in marketing endeavours.
Examples include the issuance of a blue dragon stamp series and New Year's cards by the Korea Post office, the launch of Dragon Ball-themed buns by the giant food company SPC group, and the presentation of the limited-edition Blue Label Year of Dragon by Scotch whisky brand Johnnie Walker.
Though the exact origins of this colour marketing trend are uncertain, leading Korean newspaper Dong-a Ilbo records Year of the Yellow Pig being mentioned in its New Year's edition in 1959.
Historical significance of the blue dragon
Beyond its contemporary use in marketing, the blue dragon holds a special place in Korean history.
As the only imaginary animal in the 12 zodiacs, the dragon is depicted in murals found in the tombs of ancient Korean kingdoms Goguryeo (37 BC-668 AD) and Goryeo (918-1392 AD).
A painting of King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1894), wearing blue dragon robes. Source: Supplied / Korean culture portal
In Korean mythology, dragons are benevolent beings associated with water and rain, unlike their Western counterparts linked to fire and destruction.
During droughts, people used to pray to dragons, sometimes floating dragon paintings on rivers with a wish for rain.
Celebrating with Meerue the Blue Dragon
In Korean, the word for dragon is "yong", but previously it was "meerue". To mark the 2024 Lunar New Year, a children's animation titled 'Meerue the Blue Dragon', authored by Julianne Lee, will be presented in Eastwood.
The Sydney suburb is home to the only official Koreatown in Australia, and the animation will be showcased during a lantern festival on 17 February.
“It is a story about the blue dragon Meerue who lives high in the sky and flies over to Australia and meets various new friends," Lee said.
“Throughout these encounters, he becomes more and more beautiful as he accepts diverse appearances and personalities, and builds friendships.”
A children's animation titled 'Meerue the Blue Dragon' by illustrator Claire Jeon and author Julianne Lee. Source: Supplied / Julianne Lee and Claire Jeon
Recently, she became an author of children's stories.
"After agonising over various multicultural issues, I mustered the courage to create my first children's story to mark the Year of the Blue Dragon," she said.
In the story, Meerue encounters kangaroos, koalas and cockatoos upon landing in Uluru, Australia, and his scales become brighter in colour as a reflection of the new friends he meets, their smiles and stories.
I wanted to convey a message of openness and diversity to our immigrant children who may lose confidence or become passive in Australia’s multicultural society.Julianne Lee, author
Illustrator and textile artist Claire Jeon created these animals through traditional quilting techniques by stitching scraps of different fabrics together.
“I aimed to create a natural, beautiful relationship with the illustration by making the texture of natural materials visible and providing nostalgic comfort by showing the thread stitches,” Jeon said.
Australian animals feature in the story of 'Meerue the Blue Dragon' illustrated by Claire Jeon. Source: Supplied / Julianne Lee and Claire Jeon
“Actually, the story was produced as an animation with the support of the Governors Association of Korea, so Meerue is specifically flying to Ryde from the sky of Jongno, Ryde’s sister city in Korea.”
“Throughout this year, Meerue the Blue Dragon will travel from various regions of Korea to each region of Australia to share friendship between the two countries,” Lee said.
Enriching the festival experience
Jennica Seo, project coordinator of Eastwood Koreatown, said that, along with the animation showcase, the local lantern festival will also feature blue dragon face painting and crafting, and a lantern workshop.
“This Lunar New Year, I hope to see the streets lit up with blue and red Korean lanterns. The colours of yin and yang will symbolise harmony and love.
“When the blue dragon emerges, it will signify good health, abundance, prosperity and a new beginning,“ Seo said.
