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. According to the ancient Chinese legend, in ancient time, there was a ferocious monster named “Nian” with sharp teeth and horns. Secluding itself in the dark sea for a long time, the beast would go onshore by the end of the lunar year and hunt people and livestock. In Chinese, the word for New Year is Gao Nian —which literally means to "pass over Nian" or "overcome Nian." To ward off the demon, villagers hung red decorations in and around their houses, In Chinese texts, specific yao 妖 are sometimes referred to as 鬼 (gui, spectre or ghost), 怪 (guai, strange monster), 魔 (mo, demon close to the Western sense) or 邪 (xie, spiritually deviant or morally corrupt being). This is the tale of a creature that is inseparable from Chinese New Year, and that inspired some of its most basic customsno, not the 12 zodiac animals, but the monster literally known as 年 (nián, year). According to Chinese mythology, the nian lives under the sea or in the mountains. 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. The Chinese New Year is steeped in mythology, from the terrible monster Nian, to various gods and superstitions. Learn about them all. As the sinister star of Chinese New Year, the Nian is a daunting beast from the annals of Chinese folklore. Its reputation is built on its menacing habit of attacking both humans and animals, infusing fear into the hearts of the community. Long ago there lived a frightful demon called Suì 岁 (“year”) with horns and claws and scales and huge green eyes. (Some people say red eyes.) And, being a frightful demon, of course it did evil things wherever it went. Nian is a creature from Chinese mythology that is often associated with the Lunar New Year. According to legend, this beast lived under the sea or in the mountains and would come out during the New Year’s Eve to hunt people and livestock. Chinese New Year red envelopes are a traditional gift for children or elderly people during Chinese New Year. In China, the red envelope (money) is called ya sui qian (压岁钱 /yaa sway chyen/), which means 'suppressing Sui [the demon]money'. Chinese New Year Soirée Brunch at Barfly by Buddha-Bar . Barfly by Buddha-Bar is delighted to announce its Chinese New Year celebration, featuring a unique Soirée Brunch that promises an evening of vibrant festivities and exceptional culinary experiences, at prices starting from AED365 for food and soft beverages. In this myth, Demon Sui would arrive on New Year’s Eve, menacing children by scratching their foreheads with sharp talons, causing fevers. One night, a child’s parents gave him eight copper coins wrapped in red paper for protection. Demon Duck (Credit: Supplied) Bring in the year of the snake with a special set menu, taking a modern twist on traditional flavours. Get stuck into the fum sum basket before (of course) trying the slow-roasted demon duck with a good helping of long life noodles. Finishing up with a dessert platter Shinobu possesses a calm and composed personality, often displaying a gentle and caring attitude toward others, particularly towards fellow demon slayers. However, beneath her soft exterior lies a fierce determination to eliminate demons, stemming from a deep-seated desire for revenge against those who harmed her family. Today, Chinese masks are usually associated with Chinese New Year or Chinese opera. Those are the two most common occasions when we can see people wearing them. In the past, they had more functions - from scaring evil spirits to celebrating various events. If you were wondering what do all these masks actually mean, you will find the answer to that and many other questions here. The Chinese New Year Set Menu (Dhs388 per person) from January 28 to February 3 features a delectable selection Guests can also enjoy the yusheng Chinese rainbow raw fish salad (Dhs118 for 2-4 For this reason, purification practices are recommended prior to the New Year! Happy Chinese New Year 2025 (on January 29, 2025) beginning of the Year of the Wood Snake. Chinese New Year 2025 is a Year of the Wood Snake, elementally it’s the Wood Snake, which begins from January 29th, 2025, and lasting until February 16th, 2026. The According to Google Arts & Culture, the custom of giving red envelopes came from an old legend where a demon known as Sui terrorized children while they slept on New Year’s Eve. Their parents would try to keep them awake all night to protect them. A traditional gift for children during Chinese New Year, red pockets (hong bao in Mandarin), are small red envelopes filled with lucky money.
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