Dragon Designs in Stitching
Dragons in Emroidery are Symbolic of Strength, Beauty and Power
Dragons are popular subjects for designs, in cross stitch or free embroidery. There are many ideas to choose from, so imagination is the only barrier to a great project.
Everyone can recognise dragons, but exactly are they? What are their distinguishing features? Why are they considered to be powerful but often very bad?
Dragon stories and myths have existed for thousands of years. Even so, they have a timeless quality and these days, they are popular subjects for creative stitching designs.
Dragons apparently hatch from eggs. They have scaly, long bodies, bat-like wings, big eyes and a serpent’s tail. They do not eat much, or often, but when they do, they consume a cow, sheep or preferably a human. They can be of a number of different colors and some have an ability to change their colors at will, similar to a chameleon. They usually have huge lion’s claws, and when they are very angry, they exhale fire, in long colorful flames .
There are many different types of dragon. However, the Western dragon is seen most frequently in books, art and films. The most well known stories include St George and the Dragon, Beowulf and the Dragon and Draco in the film Dragonheart. More recently, in J K Rowling’s book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry and other young wizards set themselves to tackle four huge dragons who are jealously guarding golden eggs. (Incidentally, one character in the Harry Potter books is called Draco Malfoy, "draco" meaning "dragon" in Latin.)
Many other stories have the Devil in Christianity depicted as a dragon. Legends also suggest that eating the heart of a dragon will give the individual the power of understanding birds. Consuming the dragon’s tongue helps to win arguments, and protection against stab wounds will be given if a people rub dragon’s blood on their skin.
The European and ancient Persian dragons are considered to be particularly evil beasts in mythology. In contrast, different cultures have considered them differently (and it is this aspect that may interest the person who is choosing a dragon design to stitch).
Dragons are considered to have powerful spiritual significance in some religions and cultures worldwide. For example, in Native American and Eastern cultures, dragons are worshipped regularly, being symbolic of the most beautiful, primal forces of the universe and nature itself. They are wiser than humans and they live very long lives. They have supernatural powers and are often thought to have particular magical powers, related to rivers, wells and rain. In some cultures, especially Chinese, or near to the Himalayas, dragons represent very good luck. A yellow dragon with five claws on each foot is symbolic of imperial authority in China. Asian dragons are often credited with being special rulers of the weather, especially regarding water and rain.
Another way people are most likely to encounter dragons is in fantasy literature and role-playing games, for example, Dungeons and Dragons. In this context, they have been symbols of strength, leadership, and independence. The killing of a dragon means getting the hoard of treasure that the dragon is guarding as well as the knowledge that the killer has outwitted the most cunning of creatures.
