The story of Nian – Chinese New Year

The story of Nian is a Chinese legend that is often associated with the celebration of the
Chinese New Year. Nian, in Chinese, means "year," and the legend explains the origin of
some traditional customs during the Chinese New Year festivities.

According to the legend, Nian was a mythical beast that lived in the mountains and
came down to villages to scare people, especially children, during the eve of the Chinese
New Year. Nian was said to be a fierce creature with a long body, sharp horns, and a
hungry appetite.

The villagers lived in fear of Nian and tried to find ways to protect themselves. One day,
an old man visited the village and said that Nian was afraid of three things: the colour
red, loud noises, and fire. In response to this information, the villagers started
decorating their homes with red banners, wearing red clothing, and lighting firecrackers
to keep off Nian. They also discovered that the beast didn’t like loud sounds, so they
used drums, gongs, and other noisy activities to scare it away.

On the eve of the Chinese New Year, the villagers did what the old man had said, and
Nian was successfully frightened away. The people celebrated their victory with joy and
relief. From then on, the tradition of using the colour red, setting off fireworks, and
making loud noises became part of the Chinese New Year festivities, symbolizing
keeping away of evil spirits and the welcoming of good luck and fortune for the coming
year.

The legend of Nian serves as a cultural explanation for the customs associated with the
Chinese New Year, and it is a reminder of the importance of unity and calmness during
the celebrations.