The Legend of “Nian”

The Lunar Festival, or Chinese New Year, is the most important festival for Chinese people.

Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a monster called “Nian” (“year”) that would come out to eat people and animals on the eve of every New Year. To avoid the monster’s attack, people would flee to the depth of the mountains and call this day “Nian Guan” (meaning “the Pass of Nian”).

On one New Year’s Eve, there came an old beggar in Peach Blossom Village, where an old lady gave him some food and asked him to hide himself in the mountain to avoid the monster Nian. The old man promised that he could drive the monster away as long as he was put up for the night at the old lady’s home. Being unable to persuade the old man into hiding in the mountain, the old lady went alone.

The Red Packets (“HongBao” or “LiShi”)

On the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Day, parents will give red packets containing money gifts to their siblings as a form of blessing; the children then place the red packet underneath their pillows when they sleep.

Red packets are every child’s delight at Chinese New Year! The tradition of giving gifts in Chinese culture is not the same as practiced in European or “western” culture. The way in which this is done in the West would be by putting money in a card, or indeed, giving a gift voucher. The Chinese give money inside red envelopes which are decorated with lucky symbols or Chinese characters. These are known as “LiShi” or “HungBao”.

At Chinese New Year these are given by married couples to children/unmarried people. The red is used as the most auspicious color, while the decoration may have a blessing or good wish. The symbolic giving of the money represents a wish for fortune and wealth in the coming year. The money may also be used to pay off debt, thus allowing a financial clean slate in the new year.

This tradition is derived from the legend of “Nian”, where the children are given red papers to protect themselves if they ever come into contact with the beast.

Lion Dance

The most spectacular event of the Chinese New Year festivities must surely be the Lion Dance. Lion dances take place throughout the first few days of the Chinese New Year, and bring good luck to the households or businesses which they visit. The Lion Dance itself is performed by
two dancers, one at the head
and one at the tail of the
lion. To enhance the ‘life’
of the lion, the eyelids,
mouth and ears of the
Lion’s head all move.

The dance is accompanied by loud music played on large drum, gong and cymbals. The use of firecrackers, drums, gongs and cymbals are related to the role of the lion

The dramatic climax of the Lion Dance is the “CaiQing” or ‘Picking the Green’. The green here refers to vegetable leaves which are tied to a piece of string which also has a red packet attached containing money. The string is hung above the door of the house or business, and the lion ‘eats’ both leaves and in dispelling evil bringing good luck – evil being afraid of loud noise

New Year’s Eve Dinner

The New Year’s Eve dinner is the most important dinner for Chinese. Normally this is the family reunion dinner, especially for those with family member away from home. In the New Year’s Eve dinner, normally sh will be served. Dumplings are the most important disk in northern china. These two dishes mean prosperous. Other disks are depending on personal preference. The majority of Chinese will have New Year’s Eve dinner at home instead of restaurant.

Guarding the Night

Children stay awake during the night of Chinese New Year Eve to pray for good health of their parents.

This is also derived from the legend of “Nian”, where members of the family stayed awake on the night of Chinese New Year Eve to guard the family from the beast.

Chinese people will greet each other with pleasant words like ‘Happy New Year’, ‘Good Fortune’, etc during Chinese New Year. The phrase “GongXi” (or “Gong Hei” in Cantonese) means ‘Congratulations’, derived from the legend of “Nian”, congratulating each other to have escaped the harm of the beast.

Fireworks are used to drive away the evil in China. Right after the 12:00am of the New Year’s Eve, reworks will be launched to celebrate the coming of the New Year as well as driven away the evil. It is believed that the person who launched the rst Fireworks in the New Year will get good luck.