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Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) is the oldest traditional festival in China, but a few people concern the origin and story behind the holiday. Many existing customs and activities of the festival actually can be traced back to a popular story of the Monster Nian, which helps to explain why and how the festival is celebrated. From then on, on the last day of the year, people put up red couplets, hung up red lanterns, set off firecrackers, kept the lights on and stayed up late to keep safe from Nian. As time passed, this custom spread to almost every corner of China and thus developed into one of the most important festivals of Chinese people, the Lunar New Year`s Eve. Chinese New Year's Day is called Guo Nian (过年) in Chinese, which can mean 'celebrate (a new) year' or 'overcome Nian'. The character 年 (Nián) could mean a 'year' or 'the monster Nian'. In ancient times, there was a monster named Nian (年, or Nianshou 年兽) with a long head and sharp horns. It dwelled deep in the sea all year round and The first and most well known is the legend of Nian (Year “Nian” as in New Year –”Xin Nian”). There are two versions of the legend of Nian, both include a scary beast with characteristics of a lion, ox, and unicorn, that had a dragon like appearance. These practices have evolved over time, blending ancient beliefs with modern festivities, creating a rich tapestry of cultural expression during the New Year celebrations. VI. Symbolism of Nian in Chinese Culture. Nian transcends its role as a mere monster; it symbolizes the perennial themes of good fortune and renewal in Chinese culture. New Year customs like setting off firecrackers and writing couplets on red paper were allegedly inspired by the legend of nian (VCG) Another version of the legend states that the monster was actually known as 夕 (xī), and nian was a minor god dispatched by the Kitchen God to deal with xi by using firecrackers and bands of red silk. This is Immerse yourself in the heart of the Chinese New Year, where the legend of a formidable creature, the Nian Monster, shapes many unique customs we celebrate today. This mythical beast, as per the Chinese fable, would rise from the depths of the sea, its long horns and razor-sharp teeth ready to feast on unsuspecting humans and livestock, marking The Nian (年) is a mythical creature in Chinese folklore, best known for its association with the origins of Chinese New Year traditions. According to legend, the Nian is a fierce beast that terrorized villages at the end of each lunar year, prompting the development of rituals and celebrations to ward it off. Today, the story of the Nian is Chinese New Year Legend Long ago in China there was a man-eating monster called Nian who for most of the time slept at the bottom of the ocean. However at the end of winter, on the last day of the lunar year, the hungry Nian would terrify everyone when he woke up to come on land to eat whatever he could find. (Monster Nian) Chinese New Year has a history of more than 4000 years, it was presumed started during the ancient pried of Shun Time and settled down as a tradition celebration since West Han dynasty. In China, people also call Chinese New Year festival as “Nian”, call celebrate the festival as “Guo Nian” whi The Chinese character nian more usually means "year" or "new year". The earliest written sources that refer to the nian as a creature date to the early 20th century. As a result, it is unclear whether the nian creature is an authentic part of traditional folk mythology, or a part of a local oral tradition that was recorded in the early 20th Nian According to a Chinese legend a terrible monster (pictured sometimes with features of a lion, unicorn, and ox), a really giant, monstrous creature by the name of ‘Nian’ lived in the mountains and would come down at the end of the year to destroy the fields, crops and animals and to terrorize people or even kill them all. The terrified Cultural Significance: Nian’s Influence on Chinese New Year Traditions. Uncover how the legend of Nian has shaped numerous traditions associated with Chinese New Year. From the use of red decorations to the significance of fireworks and firecrackers, explore the rituals practiced to ward off the Nian monster. The story of Nian tells of how a monster terrorises a village and eventually led to many of the Chinese New Year traditions. The legend has a central place in Chinese New Year lore and is passed down from generation to generation. The legend says, long ago, there was a monster called Nian. It was born to be very ugly and ferocious, which looked like either dragons or unicorns. On the first and the 15th of each lunar month, the monster would come down from the mountains to hunt people. In ancient Chinese mythology, there is a ferocious, horned, lion-like beast called Nian.For most of the year, this Nian was not an issue for ancient villagers, as it lived deep below the sea. Legend has it that in ancient China, there was a ferocious monster called 'Nian', which had horns, lived deep in the ocean all the year, and went onshore only on the New Year's Eve to eat animals and hurt human. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window) The 15-day long Chinese New Year celebration originated from an ancient Chinese legend of the monster Nian. Citation Information. The origin of the Chinese New Year Festival can be traced back to about 3,500 years ago. Chinese New Year has evolved over a long period of time and its customs have undergone a long development process. A Legend of the Origin of Chinese New Year. Like all traditional festivals in China, Chinese New Year is steeped with stories and myths. (Monster Nian) Chinese New Year has a history of more than 4000 years, it was presumed started during the ancient pried of Shun Time and settled down as a tradition celebration since West Han dynasty. In China, people also call Chinese New Year festival as “Nian”, call celebrate the festival as “Guo Nian” whi
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