In Chinese communities all over the world, dragons and lions are dancing. They, and ordinary people, are celebrating the start of the Year of the Pig. Such activities are an essential part of most (all?) cultures: a way of recognizing the seasons, of coming together, of taking a well-earned break from the routine and mundane of daily life.

As humanity becomes more global in its outlook, so such occurrences take on an added significance. By observing, if not joining in with the celebration of those from different cultures, so we get to experience not just what’s different, but also what we share: the need to reconnect to the things that really matter.

And, as we often say on this site: it’s the little things that make life worthwhile. Like being winked at by a Chinese lion: