Gallery
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
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. During the Chinese New Year period, the married or the elderly give red envelopes to children or unmarried juniors. A red envelope is also called yasui qian ("suppressing Sui money"). According to legend, on New Year's Eve, besides the monster Nian, there was a demon named Sui that came out to terrify children while they were asleep. 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. It is celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar (the first day of the second new moon after the day on which the winter solstice occurs, unless there is an intercalary eleventh or twelfth month in the lead-up to the New Year—in such a case, the New Year falls on the day of the third new moon after the 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. 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. Chinese New Year is a vibrant tapestry woven with myths that shape its celebrations. From the legend of Nian to the traditions surrounding the Kitchen God and the zodiac animals, these stories not only enrich the festivities but also reinforce cultural values of family, respect, and hope for prosperity. 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 The legend of Chinese New Year. Many, many moons ago, a horrific beast roamed the Chinese countryside, striking at the close of every year to eat innocent villagers, their livestock, and their hard-earned crops. The name of this beast was Nian. 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. As a result, all the villagers would flee to the mountains to escape from 'Nian' on Chinese New Year's Eve. There are 12 Chinese zodiac signs, in the following order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.Each sign is named after Since the mid-1990s people in China have been given seven consecutive days off work during the Chinese New Year. This week of relaxation has been designated Spring Festival, a term that is sometimes used to refer to the Chinese New Year in general. The origins of the Chinese New Year are steeped in legend. One legend is that thousands of years Legend and Folklore Behind The Chinese New Year. Just like the other Chinese festivals, there are many different legends and traditions behind the Chinese New Year festival. However, one of the most popular and widely known folklore for the Spring Festival is one about the mystical monster named Nian. Most of us are familiar with the Chinese Zodiac and how it differs from the Western Zodiac. The Chinese system is based on the lunar calendar and assigns an animal to each year within a 12-year cycle. It is said that people born each year receive some of that year’s animal’s reputed attributes. But where does this belief come from? What’s the date of the Chinese New Year? Look up in the sky. The Chinese New Year starts at the second new moon after the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere—which is some time in January or February. Holiday History The legend behind Chinese New Year is about a dragon called Nian, which means “year” in Chinese. In ancient China, the “龙 (lóng) dragon” lived capable upon the earth’s land, though notably, his majestic appearance lacked its famous horns. Lunar New Year: The legend behind the Chinese lion dance The lion dance is a Chinese tradition performed on big occasions, such as Lunar New Year. An author's note explains more about Chinese New Year, the legend of Nian and how she made a few changes including make the hero a girl. The author's Chinese name is Mei so she named the character after herself. This book is a must-read for everyone interested in Chinese legends and the history behind Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year: More than Just a Celebration. Chinese New Year is a vivid and dynamic celebration, enriched by the presence of the Nian. Its legend serves as a reminder of the resilience and unity of the community. So, as we welcome the Chinese New Year, remember the Nian, and the customs formed to keep this fearsome beast at bay.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |