The Chinese New Year is the most significant festival for the Chinese. It begins on the first day of the first month in the Lunar calendar. Chinese New Year’s Eve is a day where family members gather for the annual reunion dinner a day prior to the festival. The celebration will last until the fifteen day of the calendar.
The origin of the festival can be traced back to thousands years ago. Legend has it that Nien, a ferocious and cruel lion-like monster, woke up and came out to gobble up livestock, crops and even people on the first day of New Year. All the villagers would hide in their houses so that they could survive.
Unable to withstand the fear of losing their lives, the villagers went to seek for help from a wise old man. The old man told them to hang red lanterns and scrolls on doors and also make loud noises with drums and firecrackers to keep off the beast. The villagers followed the old man’s advice. When the Nien appeared, they did exactly as what was told and defeated the Nien at last.
