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 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. Unraveling the Nian: The Monster of Chinese New Year Dive into the captivating world of Chinese mythology, where each tale contributes unique threads to the intricate tapestry of the culture. The Nian, a central figure in Chinese New Year festivities, is one such fascinating thread, offering us a profound glimpse into the symbolism and 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 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 This is the legend of Nian—the mythical beast that ate children and started Chinese New Year. A long time ago, a terrible demon beast called Nian lived in the mountains. The terrified people called the beast Nian (年, nian actually is the Chinese word for 'year'). But by and by the villagers discovered that the monster was frightened by loud noises, bright lights, and the color red. To prevent the Nian to play havoc with the land, the villagers made a fearful model of the animal out of bamboo, paper, and 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 origins of the Nian legend are unclear, with the earliest written sources referring to the creature dating back to the early 20th century. 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. The tale of the nian monster is inseparable from the Chinese New Year. This is because the monster is literally known as nian, which means year. New Year’s Day is referred to as Guo Nian, which means celebrating a new year to overcome Nian. The Monster Nian is also associated with the Chinese New Year since people believe that this monster 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 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. One popular story related to the Spring Festival is about the nian, which was a terrifying creature that lived in the mountains.It would come out on the eve of the new year to destroy villagers There are many stories and legends surrounding the history of Chinese New Year worth mentioning. The first and most well known is the legend of Nian (Year “Nian” as in New Year –”Xin Nian”). 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. 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 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 Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is celebrated on the Lunar New Year every year. The Lunar New Year often falls in late January or February. The date is different to the New Year that happens on January 1st because Lunar New year marks the start of the Lunar Calendar, based on the cycles of the moon. In 2022, the Lunar New Nian, the Chinese monster . Tell your children this traditional story associated with Chinese New Year celebrations. Long, long ago, there was a terrifying monster called Nian living on his own inside a lonely mountain. At the end of every year, he would come . down from the mountain to the nearby villages to hunt for food.
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