How a monster was defeated
January 30, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Spring Festival, also known as Lunar New Year, is the symbol of spring coming.
Most years, the day of the Lunar New Year falls between January 21 and February 20.
This year, it falls on February 14, also Valentine's Day.
It's not an easy task to find out how and when exactly the Spring Festival originated, but people believe that it appeared firstly during the Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century), marking a time when farmers began their agricultural work.
However, the myth is more interesting. It's said that in ancient China, there was a monster called "Nian" ("year" in Chinese).
It had long horns and was extremely fierce and brutal. Usually it hid under the sea, but it would rise up on land on Lunar New Year's Eve to eat animals and civilians.
Therefore, every New Year's Eve, all villagers would hide in the mountains from the monster.
But one New Year's Eve, an old beggar came to the village.
Most people ignored him and were busy running away, except for one old kind woman who gave the beggar some food and suggested he escape from Nian.
However, the old man said with a smile: "Well, if you could allow me to stay at your home for a night, I promise that I'll drive that monster away."
Finding her persuasion ineffective, the old woman left him at her home and ran away with the others.
At midnight, Nian arrived.
But this time, he found something different -- in the old woman's home in the east of the village, red paper was hung on the door and red candles lit the whole room.
The monster trembled for a while and approached the house carefully.
But when he got close, firecrackers suddenly exploded in the courtyard. The monster was totally freaked out and dared not step further forward.
At this moment, the door was opened, and the monster saw an old man in red laughing in the middle of the courtyard. Nian shouted loudly and ran away.
On New Year's Day, when people got back home, the old man had already disappeared, and they found their cattle and chickens were all safe.
People thought of that old beggar and learned that fire, crackers and red color were the monster's three weaknesses, so they knew now how to drive it away.
Since that year, on every New Year's Eve, every family hangs red Spring Festival couplets on doors, lights firecrackers, keeps candles lit and stays awake all night.
On New Year's Day, people visit their relatives and friends, congratulating them on passing a safe night.
As time has passed, these have become much loved Spring Festival traditions and part of treasured family memories.
Most years, the day of the Lunar New Year falls between January 21 and February 20.
This year, it falls on February 14, also Valentine's Day.
It's not an easy task to find out how and when exactly the Spring Festival originated, but people believe that it appeared firstly during the Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century), marking a time when farmers began their agricultural work.
However, the myth is more interesting. It's said that in ancient China, there was a monster called "Nian" ("year" in Chinese).
It had long horns and was extremely fierce and brutal. Usually it hid under the sea, but it would rise up on land on Lunar New Year's Eve to eat animals and civilians.
Therefore, every New Year's Eve, all villagers would hide in the mountains from the monster.
But one New Year's Eve, an old beggar came to the village.
Most people ignored him and were busy running away, except for one old kind woman who gave the beggar some food and suggested he escape from Nian.
However, the old man said with a smile: "Well, if you could allow me to stay at your home for a night, I promise that I'll drive that monster away."
Finding her persuasion ineffective, the old woman left him at her home and ran away with the others.
At midnight, Nian arrived.
But this time, he found something different -- in the old woman's home in the east of the village, red paper was hung on the door and red candles lit the whole room.
The monster trembled for a while and approached the house carefully.
But when he got close, firecrackers suddenly exploded in the courtyard. The monster was totally freaked out and dared not step further forward.
At this moment, the door was opened, and the monster saw an old man in red laughing in the middle of the courtyard. Nian shouted loudly and ran away.
On New Year's Day, when people got back home, the old man had already disappeared, and they found their cattle and chickens were all safe.
People thought of that old beggar and learned that fire, crackers and red color were the monster's three weaknesses, so they knew now how to drive it away.
Since that year, on every New Year's Eve, every family hangs red Spring Festival couplets on doors, lights firecrackers, keeps candles lit and stays awake all night.
On New Year's Day, people visit their relatives and friends, congratulating them on passing a safe night.
As time has passed, these have become much loved Spring Festival traditions and part of treasured family memories.
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