New Year’s Day story

New Year's Day, January 1 of the Gregorian calendar, is commonly known as "New Year" in most countries in the world. Yuan means "beginning", and the beginning of any number is called "yuan"; Dan means "day"; "New Year's Day" means "the initial day".

"New Year's Day" usually refers to the first day of the first month in the calendar. In our country, the word "New Year's Day" has existed since ancient times. It was first seen in the "Book of Jin" in literary works. "New Year's Day" in the history of our country refers to the "first day of the first month". The calculation method of "first month" was very inconsistent before the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. The date of New Year's Day (the first day of the first month) in the past dynasties was not consistent.

The concept of "New Year's Day" in China has always referred to the "first day of the first lunar month". The calculation method of "first lunar month" was also very inconsistent before the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. Therefore, the New Year's Day, The days are not consistent either.

The Xia calendar in the Xia period uses the first month of spring as the first month, the Yin calendar in the Shang period uses the 12th month in winter as the first month, and the Zhou calendar in the Zhou period uses the 11th month in winter as the first month. After the unification of China, the tenth month of winter was regarded as the first month, that is, the first day of October was New Year's Day.

From Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the first month of spring was designated as the first month, and the first day of January was called New Year's Day, which has been used ever since. By the end of the Qing Dynasty

"The first day of the first lunar month" was called "Yuanzheng" in Cui Yuan's "Sanzi Chai Ming" in the Han Dynasty, and it was called "Yuanchen" in a poem in "Yangdu Fu" by Yu Chan in the Jin Dynasty. ", in the Northern Qi Dynasty, it was called "Yuan Chun" in "Yuan Hui Da Xiang Ge Huang Xia Ci", and in Tang Dezong-Li Shi's poem "Yuan Day Withdrew from the DPRK to Watch the Army and Return to Camp", it was called "Yuan Shuo".< /p>

The Nian beast is also called Nian. It is an evil beast in ancient Han myths and legends.

According to legend, in ancient times, at midnight at the end of the year, the Nian beast would attack the village and occupy it. Villages were brutally massacred, and the horns on their heads were used as weapons.

People took advantage of the three weaknesses of the Nian beast, setting off firecrackers (which would frighten the Nian beast) and pasting Spring Festival couplets to drive away the Nian beast's attacks. . In order to prevent the Nian beast from being harassed again, setting off firecrackers and posting Spring Festival couplets gradually became a festival custom, and the Spring Festival became one of the symbols of the Chinese nation.

According to legend, a long time ago, there was a monster called "Xi". Every year at the New Year's Eve, it comes out to hurt people, and even the Stove Lord, who protects the people, can't do anything about it, so the Stove Lord invites a child prodigy named "Nian" from heaven. The burning bamboo pole destroyed the Xi beast.

This day happened to be the last day of the twelfth lunar month. In order to thank and commemorate the year, the people got rid of Xi on this day, so they called the last day of the lunar calendar every year. "New Year's Eve", the first day of the new year is called the New Year, and people hope that every family will have red silk and firecrackers in their hands. So red silk and bamboo poles burned in the fire gradually evolved into every household. There are red couplets and red firecrackers during the New Year. This legend about the Nian can be said to be clear and well-organized.

There are also legends that the Nian beast has a big head and a small body, and is more than ten feet long. , eyes like copper bells, coming and going like the wind; when it roars, it makes a sound of "Nian~", hence the name Nian Beast. As time went by, people gradually discovered that the Nian Beast is afraid of three things, namely red, fire and loud noises.

So later people would gather together on New Year’s Eve when the Nian Beast was about to arrive, paste red paper (later gradually changed to paste peach charms or red couplets), hang red lanterns, set off firecrackers, etc., for the purpose It is to drive away the Nian beast.

After the Nian beast is driven away, people will always happily say to each other: "Another year has passed. "Slowly, the term "New Year" came into being, and the custom of celebrating the New Year also emerged.