The legend of Nian

Long ago in China in the deep sea, there lived a huge beast named Nian. It had a horn like a  unicorn, makes like a lion and a tail like a dragon. 

Every New Year's Eve, Nian would go to the nearby village in search of food. It ate the animals and the people. So at the end of each year, the villagers had to hide far away in the mountains. 

One New Year's Eve, an old man came to the village. He knew how to drive Nian away. Nian is afraid of the colour RED, bright lights and loud noises. The old man told the villagers. At midnight, Nian came to the village. It saw red papers on the doors and bright lights. Everyone was dressed in red. They lit firecrackers and beat drums. There was bangs and clangs everywhere. Nian was scared. It ran away to the deep sea and never returned.

From then on, Chinese people would wear red on New Year's Eve. People decorate their  homes with red cuplets, red lanterns and paper cuttings. There are dragon dances and drum shows on the streets. The night sky is bright with fireworks.

This is how people celebrate Chinese New Year or "Guo Nian" surviving the Nian beast.

Happy Spring Festival! 

Happy Chinese New Year!