We’re All Fired Up To Celebrate The Year Of The Dragon

Tomorrow is Lunar New Year and marks the start of the Year of the Dragon. So, we’re celebrating dragon stories from around the world. Plus, find out how our fearsomely sticky name labels can keep your kids’ kit safe all year round.

Celebrating The Year Of The Dragon

Dragons appear in almost all cultures around the world. Some are monsters, while others are gods and helpers – like the Rainbow Serpents of West Africa and Australia, Asian water dragons, and Lithuanian household guardians. 

Dragons usually have snake-like appearances. “Dragon” comes from Latin’s draconem (huge serpent, dragon), which came from Ancient Greek’s drákōn and meant any large snake. Western dragons are usually winged, horned fire-breathers; Eastern dragons are usually wingless, four-legged, and highly intelligent. Some combine features from birds, mammals, and reptiles.

Stories about dragons may have been inspired by living snakes and lizards or ancient fossils. Dragons are often linked to natural events, like extreme weather, earthquakes, volcanoes, and changeable rivers and seas.

Dragons fill Asian mythology. In China, dragons rank highest in the animal hierarchy and represent power, strength, prosperity, and good luck. In the story of the Great Race, Dragon comes fifth in the zodiac because it stops to bring rain to a village and blows Rabbit (clinging onto a log in the river) to shore before finishing the race.

Our best-known dragon stories are probably Saint George and the Dragon, and y Ddraig Goch (the Red Dragon, also known as the Welsh Dragon).

In modern children’s stories, dragons often play heroic and helpful roles:

• Babe makes luck stones (Luck)
• Boris befriends Elmer (My Father’s Dragon trilogy, Ruth Stiles Gannett)
• Dirk Dilly runs a detective agency (Dragon Detective Agency series, Gareth P Jones)
• Draco helps defeat King Einon (DragonHeart)
• Dragon befriends Jane (Jane and the Dragon, Martin Baynton)
• Dragon befriends Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey (Shrek series)
• Elliott saves Pete (Pete’s Dragon)
• Errol defends Ankh-Morpork (Discworld series, Terry Pratchett)
• Falkor helps Atreyu (The Neverending Story, Michael Ende)
• Grolliffe befriends Noggin and friends (Noggin the Nog)
• Haku helps Chihiro escape the spirit world (Spirited Away)
• Last Dragon becomes the princess’ pet and the world’s first aeroplane (The Last of the Dragons, E. Nesbit)
• Montague and Albertina adopt an orphan called John (Dragon Boy, Dick King-Smith)
• Mushu helps Mulan (Mulan)
• Reluctant Dragon refuses to fight St George (The Reluctant Dragon, Kenneth Grahame)
• Saphira, Fírnen, and Thorn help defeat King Galbatorix (Inheritance Cycle, Christopher Paolini)
• Sisu helps Raya (Raya and the Last Dragon)
• Toothless helps Hiccup (How To Train Your Dragon, Cressida Cowell)
• Zog wants to be the best student at dragon school (Zog, Julia Donaldson)

Try Stikins ® Labels – The Fearsomely Sticky Name Labels

If you’re on a quest to find name labels to protect your kids’ school kit, try Stikins ® labels! Our name labels use a heroically strong adhesive that helps your labels to simply stick on and stay on.

Our unique adhesive and flexible material work together as the perfect team to help you label all your kids’ kit. Simply peel each label carefully off the backing sheet and apply firmly onto each item. Our adhesive works with all kinds of surfaces, including fabric and non-fabric items.

When labelling fabric items, apply your name labels onto the wash-care label, not directly onto the fabric. When labelling shoes, apply your name labels onto the side wall or beneath the tongue, not directly below the heel.

Stikins ® labels have been independently tested using the BS EN ISO6330 wash test procedure for 60 washes at 40 degrees. They’ve also been put through their paces by thousands of families across the UK.

You can trust your Stikins ® name labels to protect your kids’ kit through the washing machine, tumble dryer, kitchen sink, microwave, dishwasher, and while they’re out and about having adventures!

Stikins ® labels are available in four pack sizes of 30, 60, 90, or 120 name labels. You can order online anytime or by phone during office hours (9am-5pm, Mon-Fri). We despatch all orders on the same or next working day by Royal Mail’s first class post (unfortunately, we couldn’t find any delivery dragons). We offer a 10% discount when you order three or more packs; your packs can be all the same, all different, or any mix you prefer.

So, don’t delay! Protect your kids’ school kit with Stikins ® name labels today!