The Chinese New Year has been celebrated since ancient times and is traditionally a wonderful burst of red and gold and long, brightly decorated monsters. But, did you know that this tradition also has a wonderful story behind it?
A long time ago, in ancient China, there lived a monster called Nian. Every year, Nian enjoyed visiting little villages in the countryside, to scare the living daylights out of everyone he saw. He thought it was great fun. He also liked to do this around the time of the Chinese New Year to remind the villagers that he was still alive and around. And, every year, after scaring everyone witless, he could hardly wait for the next New Year to scare them again.
This would probably have gone on forever. But, one day, around the time of the New Year, one of the villagers wore a bright red tunic. When Nian jumped out to scare him, the monster took one look at the red of the villager's tunic, turned about and ran away. The villager got such a fright at seeing Nian he dropped a heavy, metal bucket he had been carrying. The bucket bounced down the hill behind Nian, hit every rock on its way, and made a terrible noise. Nian looked fearfully over his shoulder and ran away even faster.
The villager told everyone about his fabulous luck. His red tunic had scared away Nian. The noise of the metal bucket had sent the monster fleeing. This was very good news for everyone and all the villagers set about preparing themselves for the next time Nian should appear.
They were not disappointed. When Nian appeared around the time of the following New Year, everyone in the village ran and fetched the red banners and loud rattles they had made. They shook their rattles, beat their drums and waved their banners at him. And Nian ran away! The villagers never saw him again.
Thus it came about that the Chinese New Year is always celebrated with red tunics, rattles, lanterns, loud drums and red banners, to keep evil away.
From Ancient China for Children.
A long time ago, in ancient China, there lived a monster called Nian. Every year, Nian enjoyed visiting little villages in the countryside, to scare the living daylights out of everyone he saw. He thought it was great fun. He also liked to do this around the time of the Chinese New Year to remind the villagers that he was still alive and around. And, every year, after scaring everyone witless, he could hardly wait for the next New Year to scare them again.
This would probably have gone on forever. But, one day, around the time of the New Year, one of the villagers wore a bright red tunic. When Nian jumped out to scare him, the monster took one look at the red of the villager's tunic, turned about and ran away. The villager got such a fright at seeing Nian he dropped a heavy, metal bucket he had been carrying. The bucket bounced down the hill behind Nian, hit every rock on its way, and made a terrible noise. Nian looked fearfully over his shoulder and ran away even faster.
The villager told everyone about his fabulous luck. His red tunic had scared away Nian. The noise of the metal bucket had sent the monster fleeing. This was very good news for everyone and all the villagers set about preparing themselves for the next time Nian should appear.
They were not disappointed. When Nian appeared around the time of the following New Year, everyone in the village ran and fetched the red banners and loud rattles they had made. They shook their rattles, beat their drums and waved their banners at him. And Nian ran away! The villagers never saw him again.
Thus it came about that the Chinese New Year is always celebrated with red tunics, rattles, lanterns, loud drums and red banners, to keep evil away.
From Ancient China for Children.
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