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Terrifying Jack O´ Lantern Dragon Stencils

Dragon legend and mythology varies depending upon where you are in the world. Dragon and serpent worship developed first in ancient Egypt then gradually spread to Babylon, India, the Orient, the Pacific Islands, and finally the North American continent. Fire breathing dragons are European inventions. Western dragons are created from parts of various creatures with eagle's feet and wings, lion's forelimbs and head, fish's scales, antelope's horns and a serpentine form of trunk and tail.

Eclipses were thought to occur when dragons attempt to swallow either the sun or the moon. The most popular sort of dragon mythology today seems to be the Chinese dragon which symbolizes the Chinese people who consider themselves as "Lung Tik Chuan Ren," or Descendents of the Dragon. Dragons are considered to be divine mythical creatures that bring ultimate abundance, prosperity and good fortune.

Print an assorment of dragon templates from several different and unique cultured this year to bring magical or spiritual qualities to your pumpkin and gourd carving Jack O' Lanterns for the Trick or Treat festivities.

Dragon Color Book and Carving Templates

The root of the legends may have a grain of fact with the griffin. Griffins are legendary creatures that seem to be a combination of several different animals, specfically the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle and a parrot-like beak. The griffin of mythology closely resembles the fossilized remains of the Protoceratops dinosaur. Ancient miners digging up the bones of these creatures believed they were dragons who guarded gold deposits.

The shape and size of dragons varies between cultures. Depending upon where you are in the world dragon characteristics are different. The Japanese dragon, for instance, has only 3 toes while the Korean dragon has 4 toes.

Dragons are very important symbols in many cultures today. The legends of these beasties tie in with mythologies of winged gods from the heavens who came to Earth to create the human race.

Dragons are mythological creatures that exist in stories and legends the world over. From monstrous ogres and trolls lurking under bridges to great winged, fire breathing, flying beasts, dragons and demons persist in our imaginations to both terrify and fascinate.