Chinese New Year is one of my favorite holidays.  It is a major holiday for the Chinese, and we spend days to prepare, and days to celebrate.

I am sure there are many stories about Chinese New Year, but I started telling my kids about this fable when Chopsticks asked me about Chinese  New Year at the age of 2.  My parents used to tell me this story when I was little too.  I hope you like my version, and please do tell, and share your version with me.

A long time ago, a beast called Nien (年, nián) had a very large mouth that could swallow many things and people in one bite.  Nian always live in deep sea, but it would come out every New Year to attack food and animals.  Nien would eat up all the food, and even people in the village.  Everyone would be really scared and would hide until after New Year.  As years go by, the villagers discovered that Nien is scared of a few things.  Nien is scared of the color red.  Ever since that discovery, everyone would put something red all over the house to scare Nien away.  People would put red paper all over on the doors and windows; villagers would dress in red; red lanterns would be hung all around the houses.  Then some people also accidentally discovered that Nien was afraid of loud noises, and therefore, firecrackers were used to frighten Nien away.  The villagers were so happy, as they saved themselves from this beast, and Nien had never come back ever since then.

We still carry these traditions nowadays for Chinese New Year.  For example, we would put red banners around the house with good luck writings; everyone would wear something red; and of course, the fire crackers too.  My children definitely love hearing these stories, because now everything that we do for Chinese New Year makes sense to them.  I hope you can pass this or other versions onto your children too!