Dragon and Halloween

Dragons are one of the favorite characters to be carved out on pumpkins. Using light, these can look stunning. People like to display these at home. Most of such activities are better suited for older kids and adults. If you enjoyed Fall Activities for Kids, and the kids want to do such back-lit things, here's a simple one they can try.

Halloween by TRIUMPHSIX

Dav Pilkey has written a series of Dragon books. They are short and fun. Even adults enjoy them. Kids could draw the outline of Dragon from the books, and parents could help them cut it out. Here's a simple way to do this. 

1. Take a plain white paper bag. 

2. Get the kids to draw out Dragon

3. Put a piece of cardboard under it and help the child cut out the shape. 

4. Punch a few holes at the top of the bag to pretty up the bag. 

5. Place a tea light inside.

Darken the room and enjoy Dragon's silhouette this Halloween. You could make 2-3 of these and place them all around the room to have a Halloweeny atmosphere. 

Enjoy your Halloween!

3 Unforgettable Dragons in Dragon Games

Dragons have ruled our collective imagination for centuries. Some are fearsome creatures that kidnap little children and devastate entire villages; others are cuddly pets that can be trained to work and play alongside humans. Dragons are everywhere - from ancient myths and fairy tales to medieval tapestries to modern films, books and, in the last few years, dragon games, both video and online. If you’re a gamer, you know how exciting it is to pit your wits against these reptilian monsters and vanquish them. Check out these 3 charismatic dragons that will make you fall in love with the game that features them.

“Dragon Fire” by Dennis Jarvis Licensed under CC BY SA 2.0

Spyro the Dragon

Probably the most popular dragon in the world of gaming, Spyro the titular protagonist of Spyro the Dragon, The Legend of Spyro appeared in 1998 and no game dragon has been able to steal his thunder since. Spyro is a feisty young punk who can efficiently dispatch thieves, gigantic gnorcs, sheep on stilts and sundry opponents to their doom. But Spyro is no ordinary dragon; his puny body is a rich purple with medium-sized orange wings, Mohawk hairstyle and large curved horns. Looks aside, Spyro is lovable when he’s being himself – a cocky, stubborn brat who’s happiest when helping others. Spyro’s enduring popularity proves that a strong dragon character can long outlive the dragon game that first featured it.

Sapphiron (World of Warcraft)

If battling powerful dragons gives you a high, Sapphiron is more than a match for you. This terrifying blue dragon lived in the frozen heights of the mountains of Northrend but until he was killed by Arthas. Brought back from the dead, Sapphiron becomes an undead frost wyrm and guards Kel Thuzad’s hideout against enemies and trespassers. In his dragon avatar, Sapphiron was a highly powerful medium who could channel the spirits of deceased dragons but his powers get a substantial boost when he is resurrected from the dead. And if fighting with a zombie dragon equipped with occult powers doesn’t scare you, nothing ever will!

Toothless (How to Train your Dragon)

The How to Train your Dragon movies and the game based upon it were a runaway hit and so were the characters. Toothless the only Night Fury in existence wins hearts with his unflinching loyalty to best friend and human protector Hiccup. Toothless is head and shoulders above your average dragon – he is highly intelligent, intuitive and an extremely capable fighter who never backs down even when confronted with bigger and stronger opponents. Modesty is not his strong suit, however. This endearing dragon knows his strength and is not above showing some attitude when he feels like it. HTTYD is a fun dragon game and Toothless has a lot to do with it.

Dragon games are all about complexity, playability and freshness. These dragon characters make sure you’ll go back to the game even if it wasn’t so great. 

Female Characters in How to Train your Dragon 2

 

Photo Courtesy - School of Dragons

If you loved the heart-warming animation flick How to Train your Dragon (2010), you’re definitely looking forward to its sequel, the second installment of the planned Viking-dragon trilogy. According to reports, most of the characters from the original are set to reprise their memorable roles in the second movie, but you’ll also see a few new faces. Here’s a quick look at the important female characters you can expect to see in How to Train your Dragon 2, both old and new.

Astrid

Astrid Hofferson is a teenage girl and a top student at the Dragon Training Academy, which she attends along with Hiccup and other young Vikings. She’s tough, good looking and completely unimpressed by Hiccup’s secret shenanigans with Toothless. Soon, however, she becomes a fellow conspirator in Hiccup’s plan to bring peace between the Vikings and the dragons and secretly develops a crush on the nerdy son of the Viking chief. This spunky chick is a natural at dragon slaying and has plenty of physical strength and cunning required for the job. 

Surprisingly, Astrid does not appear in the book series, though she seems to be loosely based on Camicazi, an important female character in the books. When you see her next, she’ll be 20 years old, Hiccup’s longtime girlfriend and one of the main protagonists in How to Train your Dragon 2. There’s a definite reversal of roles when it comes to Astrid and Hiccup. Astrid is the active and aggressive fighter, while Hiccup is the sensitive thinker who feels things more strongly than others. Like her personality, Astrid’s appearance too has undergone a process of refinement in the sequel. Her hair seems to be sleeker and her outfit trendier, though her shoulder pads and trusty battle axe appear to be unchanged.

Valka

We finally get to meet Hiccup’s long lost mother in How to Train your Dragon 2, though she’s mentioned several times in the prequel. We first see Valka as she saves kidnapped dragons from the evil Eret and hides them in a secret Arctic cave. Her life is spent among dragons; she knows their ways and is privy to their secrets. Valka has a well-earned reputation for being crazy – she prefers the company of dragons to that of humans and has even learned to communicate with them in non-verbal ways. In the war between dragons and Vikings, Valka certainly knows whose side she’s on – her sympathies lie with the fire-breathing monsters and she finds it hard to trust humans. Hiccup admires her tremendously and looks up to her, although he doesn’t always understand her. Valka and her son share a love for dragons and both are expert dragon riders. 

Both Astrid and Valka are important characters in How to Train your Dragon 2, a crucial to the evolution of the plot.

Real Species that Resemble Dragons

For millennia, dragons have featured in the mythology, folktales, art and historical accounts of cultures as diverse as those of Egypt, India, Europe, China and Africa. European dragons are fearsome fire-belching reptiles, part lizard, part snake and part bat. Their favorite pastime is to destroy cities, devour maidens and stand guard over treasure hidden in mountain caves. South American cultures have their own version of the dreaded dragon – a divine flying serpent with the power to restore the world after every cycle of destruction. The Chinese dragon is a water-dwelling creature that confers fertility and fortune on the deserving; an amphibious patchwork of eagle-like talons, stag-like antlers and a body that remains enveloped in flames.

Despite the differences, dragons belonging to disparate cultures have characteristics that can be found in many animal, bird and reptile species that actually exist today. Here is a far-from-comprehensive list of creatures that could well qualify as cousins to the awe-inspiring dragon.

The Komodo Dragon

Easily the top contender for the position of First Cousin-to-the-Dragon, the Komodo Dragon also has the distinction of being the largest lizard in the world. Inhabitants of the Southern Indonesian islands, these powerful reptiles have sharp claws and teeth that are capable of administering lethally toxic bites. So that explains the name. In fact, the Komodo dragon could very well have been the inspiration for stories and sightings of the European dragon – except that it was only discovered by Europeans in 1910.

The Bearded Dragon

This dragon lookalike from Down Under is a woodland native with a number of spiky protuberances around the head and the ability to inflate a pouch underneath its chin in order to intimidate its enemies. But if the tactic doesn’t work, the bearded dragon is equally capable of rearing up on its hind legs and making a dash for safety. This interesting creature can produce a mild form of venom which is harmless to humans and most other animals.

The Paradise Tree Snake

The dragon’s serpentine cousin is an agile climber found mostly in Thailand, Singapore and

Paradise Tree Snake

other Southeast Asian countries. The Paradise Tree Snake is a tree-dweller with the uncanny ability to change its shape from convex to concave as it glides and parachutes its way from one high branch to another. As it launches itself through the air, the snake writhes to and fro, resembling an undulating snake on the ground. The species is not very aggressive but its rear fangs are poisonous and they mostly feed on small mammals, birds and lizards.