What is a "Dragon"?
The word "Dragon" comes from the Latin "draco," which means "huge serpent." Dragons are usually described as giant, scaly creatures with wings and fire-breathing abilities. Other animals most likely inspired the idea of the dragon, like snakes, crocodiles, alligators, and Komodo dragons. Not all dragons look like the typical dragon. For example, the wyvern is a creature that closely resembles a dragon. The main difference is that it has two legs instead of the usual four. The symbol of the wyvern is often used in heraldry. Heraldry refers to different designs and symbols that distinguish individuals and groups of people, usually used in clothing and flags.
Below are different kinds of dragons from all around the world. In most of these stories, dragons can be fearsome; but they can also be friendly, like in Dragons Love Tacos!
Many dragons in Greek mythology are more serpent-like. The Hydra had nine heads, which regenerated doubly if one was lost. In another myth, the dragon Ladon had 100 heads.
In Egyptian mythology there is a dragon-like serpent named Apophis, or Apep, who was evil and tried to swallow the sun god Ra. Egyptian myths say that humans had to work to overthrow Apophis.
Hungarian tales of dragons often said that dragons could move between the material and spiritual worlds. They also associate dragons with with nature. The dragons in Hungarian legends often have multiple heads; the number of heads a dragon has symbolic significance. There are also different kinds of dragons in Hungarian legends: one kind of dragon even looks and acts like a human.
In Mesopotamia, dragons with lion-like features are common. Others were more serpent-like. In particular, Tiamat was a Babylonian goddess that looks like a serpent or a dragon. Pictured above is Mushussu, a Babylonian dragon.
The Chinese dragon, also known as loong, long or lung, usually looks like a large snake with legs and horns. Chinese dragons can also have features from other animals.
Dragon Characteristics
Dragons are traditionally shown to have these characteristics:
Tails
Horns
Wings
Claws
A mighty roar
Fire-breathing abilities
An affinity for shiny things
In the show, some of these characteristics are changed or explained in more detail. For example, instead of roaring, these dragons make all kinds of noises to communicate. The dragons are constantly curious and energetic. Also, dragons’ affinity for shiny things is really a love of tacos, and a dragon’s fire-breathing abilities only appear when they eat spicy salsa! No matter how many times they accidentally eat spicy salsa, the dragons will always love tacos. Giant Tacos are impressive and awesome, and Tiny Tacos are rare and special. The dragons are amazed every time they come across a taco, and there could be many reasons why - think back to the show to see if you can figure it out!
Red Dragon
The red dragon is characterized by its little wings and kind personality. It is always the first dragon to come through the front door, which speaks to its extroverted nature. Red dragons are often associated with fiery areas like volcanoes. The red dragon is a fire dragon.
Another red dragon you might know is Mushu from the 1998 Disney movie Mulan. Voiced by Eddie Murphy (who sang the song "Party All the Time" referenced in the script), Mushu acts as a guide that helps Mulan throughout the movie.
White Dragon
The white dragon is characterized by its big horns and energetic personality. Filled with wonder, the white dragon is always finding new things to be curious about. White dragons are often associated with ice and snow. In fact, the white dragon is a snow dragon.
An example of another white dragon is Falkor from The NeverEnding Story. In the book and movie, Falkor is a luckdragon and resembles both a dog and a Chinese dragon. He is very kind, friendly and wise.
Yellow Dragon
The yellow dragon is characterized by its little tail and happy personality. It is very good at charades and enjoys making others happy. Yellow dragons are often associated with the sun or the desert. Yellow is also associated with silliness - the yellow dragon is a silly dragon.
Another yellow dragon you might know is Festus from Rick Riordan's book The Lost Hero. This dragon is a mechanical dragon. He has a very happy personality - in fact, "Festus" means happy in Latin!
Blue Dragon
The blue dragon is characterized by its giant paws and generous personality. It is relatively introverted and nervous around people, but warms up to company quickly. Blue dragons are often associated with water. In fact, the Blue dragon is a storm dragon.
An example of another blue dragon is Saphira from Eragon. Eragon is a book and movie where a boy named Eragon finds and hatches a dragon egg. Throughout their journey together, Eragon and Saphira (the dragon from the egg) protect each other and the ones they love.