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. 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 stories date back thousands of years. Read on to learn of a few popular and interesting Chinese New Year myths. The Monster and New Year’s Eve. In ancient times, there was a monster named Nián (年). It usually lived at the bottom of the sea and would come up once a year to feast on animals and humans. Nian Year. This amazing Nian monster story spread like wildfire across China, and people started to practice this ritual, and it became one of the most important festivals of the Chinese people. Nian, by the way, means ‘year’ in Chinese Mandarin, hence the Lunar New Year or commonly known as Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year Rituals The Chinese New Year holiday also known as Spring Festival starts on the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends with the Lantern Festival which occurs on the fifteenth day of the first month of the Lunar New Year (which is a full moon). The old Chinese word “Nian” translates to “ripe grains.” The Chinese New Year Monster: A Tale of Fear and Celebration. The tale of the New Year monster weaves a fascinating narrative that is both intimidating and celebratory. It brings to life the belief that even the most fearsome creatures can be scared off by simple elements like noise, light, and color. 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 It is celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Of the many stories and legends the best known is the “Legend of Nian(年兽)”: There was a monster in ancient times with the body of a bull and the head of lion. It was a ferocious animal that lived in the mountains and hunted for a living. Despite this, the story of Nian has become an integral part of Chinese New Year celebrations, with many people still using firecrackers and red decorations to scare away the beast. In addition to being a popular legend, the story of Nian also has a deeper meaning, representing the need for people to come together and work together to overcome 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. The Legend of Nian: The Monster Under the Bed. One of the most famous Chinese New Year legends is the story of Nian, a ferocious monster that would terrorize villages on the eve of the new year. According to the legend, Nian would devour crops, livestock, and even villagers. Do you know Why Chinese New Year is Celebrated?Long long ago, there was a ferocious monster named "Nian" with sharp teeth and a horn. It lived deep down in t Join us on today's adventure! Today we will be hearing a story surrounding one of the many legends of the Lunar New Year. This holiday is celebrated in multi 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. Ancient Story Nian, the Horrible Monster Ancient China for Kids. Chinese New Year started many thousands of years ago. It is still celebrated today. It is a time for Once upon a time, long long ago, there was a man-eating monster called "Nian (年兽, nián shòu)". This beast lived deep in the ocean. It would sleep every day of the year, except on the last day of the Lunar Year, when the cold winter months would turn into Spring. The Nian Monster by Andrea Wang and illustrated by Alina ChauTong tong! The legendary Nian monster has returned at Chinese New Year. With horns, scales, and Chinese New Year in 2025 falls on Jan. 29 and ends with the Lantern Festival on Feb. 12. the origin of the practice goes back to a story about a monster called Nian, who is believed to have Chinese New Year holds deep cultural importance and is rich with symbolism. This celebration marks new beginnings and is steeped in ancient traditions that continue to shape modern observances. Cultural Importance and Traditions. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important holiday in Chinese culture. A song for Chinese New Year. This traditional myth explains why people wear red and shoot off firecrackers during the New Year celebration - to scare away th
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