In Spyro: Year of the Dragon, the Year of the Dragon celebration happens every 12 years. The event marks the arrival of new dragon eggs in the Dragon Realms, making it a major occasion for Spyro and his fellow dragons.
The game's story begins during this celebration. Bianca, working for the Sorceress, leads an invasion and steals the dragon eggs before they can safely remain in the Dragon Realms. Spyro, Sparx, and Hunter then pursue the stolen eggs through the Forgotten Worlds.
The 12-year interval is also a deliberate reference to the Chinese zodiac's repeating 12-animal cycle, although the game's fictional celebration is part of Spyro's own mythology. A common mix-up is to confuse the event's frequency with the game's 2000 release year or with the title's meaning: “Year of the Dragon” describes the recurring celebration, not a one-time historical date.