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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. There are many legends and stories about the Chinese New Year. We would like to share with you the three most popular ones. 1. The Legend of Why New Year 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 Chinese New Year is steeped in mythology, from the terrible monster Nian, to various gods and superstitions. Learn about them all. Our Chinese language teacher Wang Qixia shares with us the story of the Nian beast. Have you ever wondered why Chinese people display red items and set off fireworks during the Chinese New Year? Long, long ago in ancient China, there was a fierce beast called “Nian”. Learn about the origin and customs of Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, and the legend of Nian, a ferocious beast that was scared away by fire, scarlet, and noise. Discover how the legend of Nian influenced the traditions of Guo Nian and the Spring Festival. 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. 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). But why do Chinese people celebrate this festival? Why Chinese New Year has so many traditions? Read these three interesting stories and you will find the answers. Chinese New Year 1. Legends of Monster Nian. In ancient times, there was a big-horned monster called "Nian" who lived at the bottom of the sea all year. The Legend of Nian (The Legend of Why New Year is Celebrated) 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. 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. 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 Each Chinese lunar year has a Chinese zodiac sign animal. The Chinese zodiac year's stsarting date is a little different from the Gregorian year. It starts from Chinese New Year. The Chinese zodiac years chart below is provided to help you find out the exact starting and ending dates of the Chinese zodiac years. (This is especially useful for Red Envelopes (红包, hóng bāo): Elders give these to younger family members as a blessing for the new year. Don’t forget to say 新年快乐! (xīn nián kuài lè , Happy New Year!). For more customs during Chinese New Year (春节, chūn jié), we strongly recommend you check the video we shared on YouTube. I'm sure you'll learn a lot The Spring Festival marks a new year on the lunar calendar and represents the desire for a new life. Legend of the Origin of Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year is steeped with stories and myths. One of the most popular legends is about the mythical beast Nian (Year). He ate livestock, crops, and even people on the eve of a new year. Styled & Sutured: Fashion On Screen runs till Feb 23 at the Asian Film Archive’s Oldham Theatre, with a Chinese New Year break from Jan 27 to Feb 8. Prices for standard tickets are at $10, with Now you know the reasons why Chinese New Year has many loud fire crackers, bright fireworks and red lanterns, lion dance performances, and the color red is seen everywhere to scare the beast away. The masks and the costumes of the lion dance may represent the Nian. During the festive day, some big Buddhist temples will prepare a lot of Laba porridge and distribute it to ordinary people who come to pray for peace. Later, this Chinese New Year tradition spread over the whole society and became a custom of Chinese people. Chinese New Year Story #3 - the Legend of 10,000 Years Calendar Chinese New Year and the Zodiacs. Each of these zodiac animals governs a whole year, which starts at Chinese New Year according to the lunar calendar. This usually corresponds to January or February in the western calendar. When the current year has the same zodiac animal as the year you were born, you are said to be in Ben Ming Nian. Because the dates of Chinese New Year change every year, individuals born in January or February will need to pay special attention to their birth date in addition to their birth year. Chinese Zodiac Calculator. If you don’t know your Chinese zodiac use our calculator below to quickly find your animal sign by entering your birthday, and be 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.
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