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Dragon dances are an integral part of every Chinese New Year celebration. They provide color, movement and noise that make this yearly event more fun! The Chinese believe that these fire-spewing dragons are a sign of good luck for they chase bad spirits away. This is not uncommon to our practice of banging on pots and pans to drive away bad luck for a fresh start the coming year.

You can now join in the merrymaking with your own unique dragon symbol. Windsocks are made of lightweight fabric or paper and shaped like a tunnel so that air can glide in and out. The wind makes the windsock fly, soar and sway. Play with it like a handheld kite or attach it to a post outdoors like a giant lantern.

Some steps may require the assistance of a grown-up so don't hesitate to call on an older playmate, brother, sister or even your mom and dad. Call them all to join in on the fun. Here's what you'll need:

1. 4 meters of lightweight fabric (like tetoron)
2. a long rod around three meters that will serve as the handle or pole.
3. Small hula hoop
4. Scraps of colorful fabric. Rummage through your closet and recycle unused socks, hankies and shirts. Be sure to ask mommy first!
5. White, yellow and orange cartolina
6. 4 meters of strong cord
7. black or any color marker
8. stapler and tons of staple wire
9. fabric or Elmer's white glue
10. pair of scissors
11. needle and thread
12. paper streamers cut from Japanese or crepe paper

To make:

1. Fold the green fabric in half across to measure 2 meters in length. Draw your windsock shape on the fabric. You can use a rectangular or an hourglass shape, just make sure you leave both sides of the fabric open.
2. Cut out the shape through both layers of fabric. These two layers will comprise the front and back parts of your windsock.
3. With your fabric scraps, decorate both layers of your windsock. You can use circles, scallops and triangles. Glue these on to your dragon.
4. Add final touches to your dragon like the two black eyes and the two nostrils. You can use your scrap fabric or just draw these details with a black marker.
5. Next, draw then cut triangular connected shapes-much like the banderitas we hang every fiesta--from your cartolina. Make 3 sets. The biggest goes to the center and the two smaller banderitas will be attached to both sides of the dragon.
6. Now, you can staple the side seams of the windsock together. The top and bottom of the windsock are to be left open.
7. Staple your paper streamers around the bottom of your dragon.
8. Securely fasten your hoop around the dragon's mouth. You may also ask a grown-up to stitch this for you.
9. Sketch your dragon's teeth on a white cartolina, and his flame on a yellow and orange cartolina. Cut these out and staple these to the top end of your dragon.
10. Attach the cord at 3 places around the hoop and onto the rod. Ideal length of your cord should vary between 3 to 4 meters.

Now, your dragon is ready to fly! Kong Hei Fat Choi!