Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
The Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is the most important festival in Chinese culture. It is a time for families to get together and celebrate. Do you know about the folklore behind this festival?
One popular story related to the Spring Festival is about the nian, which was a terrifying creature that lived in the mountains. It would come out on the eve of the new year to destroy villagers’ homes, eat their crops, and even hurt them. It had a giant body, sharp teeth, horrifying eyes, and one large horn on its head.
People were scared of the creature and began fleeing to remote mountains to avoid the nian’s attack.
But one year, things took a turn. While most of the villagers were busy running away from the nian, a strange old beggar in rags came to the town. Nobody noticed him except for one kind old lady. She gave him some food to eat and told him about the monster.
The beggar told the old lady that he would scare away the nian if she let him stay in her house. Although the woman did not believe he could follow through on his promise, she opened her home to him. The next day, the old man was gone, but the village was intact.
Inside the old lady’s house, the villagers found sheets of red paper on the doors and windows as well as burnt bamboo scattered around. They figured out that the nian was afraid of the colour red, as well as the loud noise and bright light from the bamboo burning and cracking.
That is the story behind why Chinese people place red paper on windows and doors, light candles and set off fireworks every year for the Spring Festival.
Suggested answers
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Before you read: During the Spring Festival, people usually spend time with their family, have big meals, and sometimes watch fireworks and films on TV together.
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Stop and think: It’s a time for families to get together and celebrate.
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Consider: The nian monster is scared of the colour red, as well as the bright lights and loud sounds from fireworks.
