Chinese New Year Customs, Legends

Legend has it that in ancient China, there was a monster called "Nian", which had horns and was very fierce. The Nian lived at the bottom of the sea for many years, and only climbed ashore on New Year's Eve to devour livestock and hurt people. Therefore, every New Year's Eve, the people of villages and hamlets fled to the mountains to avoid the harm of the beast.

This New Year's Eve, Peach Blossom Village, people are supporting the old and young to take refuge in the mountains, from the village came a begging old man, see his hand on crutches, arm with a bag bag, silver beard flowing, eyes like a star. Folks have sealed the windows and locked the door, some packing, some cattle and sheep, everywhere people shouting and horse neighing, a scene of panic in a hurry. At this time, who still have the heart to care for the old man begging. Only the east end of the village, an old woman gave the old man some food, and advised him to quickly go to the mountains to avoid the "New Year" beast, the old man stroked his beard and laughed: "Granny, if you let me stay at home for a night, I must be 'New Year' beasts away". The old woman looked closely, see his hair, hale and hearty, extraordinary. But she still continued to persuade, begging the old man smiled but did not say. The old woman had no choice but to leave her home behind and take refuge in the mountains.

In the middle of the night, the "New Year" beast broke into the village. It found that the atmosphere in the village was different from that of previous years: the old lady's house at the east end of the village had a big red paper on the door, and the candles in the house were burning brightly. The beast shuddered and gave a strange cry. Nian" stared angrily at the old lady's house for a moment, and then pounced on her with a wild cry. Near the door, the courtyard suddenly came "bang bang pop" sound, "year" shuddered, no longer dare to come forward. It turns out that Nian is afraid of the color red, fire and explosions. At this time, the door of the mother-in-law's house was wide open, only to see an old man wearing a red robe in the yard, laughing. Nian" was so frightened that he fled in a panic.

The next day was the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar, and the people who had returned from their refuge were very surprised to see that the village was safe and sound. It was only then that the old woman realized what was happening, and rushed to the townspeople to tell them about the old man's promise. Villagers flocked to the old lady's home, only to see the old lady's home with red paper on the door, a pile of unburned bamboo in the yard is still in the "snap" blast, a few red candles inside the house is still glowing ......; ecstatic villagers to celebrate the arrival of good luck, have to change the new clothes! Wear a new hat, to friends and relatives to say hello. This incident soon spread in the surrounding villages, people know the way to drive away the "New Year" beast.

From then on, every year on New Year's Eve, every house puts up red couplets and sets off firecrackers; every house is lit up with candles and keeps watch for the new year. Early in the morning on the first day, but also to go to friends and relatives to say goodbye. This custom is more and more widely spread, into the Chinese folk most grand traditional festival "New Year".