Here There be Dragons

A dragon is a type of legendary animal that has been described in myth and folklore.  Although some early travelers have talked about dragons in their natural history accounts, the writers usually got their information at second hand.  Those who actually saw dragons either didn’t survive it, or they may have had other issues that we won’t discuss here.  Perhaps the safest way to encounter a dragon is through cross-stitch and regular embroidery.

 All in all, I think that dragons are especially appropriate as subjects for embroidery.  The patterns are usually detailed, colorful, and exotic, and they call to mind a whole universe of myth and story.  There are a lot of dragon patterns available of both the western and eastern varieties.  Although dragons occur in almost all cultures, their appearance varies according to the location in which they are found.

Perhaps we should consider first just what a dragon looks like.  All of them are thought to be giant snake-like creatures—sort of like a reptile on steroids.  Some think they are an ancient memory of dinosaurs or a symbol of humankind’s innate fear of snakes.  Their dispositions are often a mixture of cat, bird, and reptile-like traits.  Mostly, they have lots of teeth, and usually, they are believed to be very wicked, wily, and hungry.

Dragons are thought to be the largest of all animals, and they may have wings, horns, four legs, and a capacity for breathing fire.  Of course, these are generally the traits of the western-style dragons that we are most familiar with.  They were often used in the Middle Ages in allegories, and they were meant to be tamed or killed by saints or heroes.  They had voracious appetites, they lived in caves, they hoarded gold, and they had a nasty habit of kidnapping maidens.   

In the East, however, the dragon means good fortune, and they have power over the rain that makes the crops grow.  Although they are usually wingless, they are sometimes used as transport for gods and goddesses.  Dragons were identified with the Chinese emperor.  There was a time when the emperor was the only one who was allowed to have a dragon on his royal robes.

Now, anyone can embroider or wear a dragon, and you might want to consider adding one to your collection.  Although dragons are held to be dangerous, mythical creatures, they are especially good in needlework projects