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Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, marks the beginning of a new year in the Chinese lunar calender and is the most important traditional festival for the Chinese people. This year, the Year of the Snake in the lunar calendar starts on Jan. 29. It will also be the first Spring Festival celebrated since the tradition was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2024.
EyeShenzhen and Shenzhen Daily are releasing a special series that explores the Spring Festival customs and activities that have been widely observed for thousands of years.
Just as Christmas is celebrated in the West, Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, holds a similar significance in China. It is one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals in China and among Chinese communities worldwide. This vibrant and joyous occasion is steeped in rich traditions and customs that have been passed down through generations.
In Chinese, celebrating the new year is referred to as "guò nián" (过年), which can mean "celebrate (a new) year" or "overcome Nian." However, many people are unaware of the origin and story behind this holiday. The various customs and traditions associated with the festival can actually be traced back to a popular story about the monster Nian, which helps explain why and how the festival is celebrated.
According to ancient Chinese legend, the monster named Nian has sharp teeth and horns. File photo
According to ancient Chinese legend, there was once a ferocious monster named Nian, characterized by its sharp teeth and horns. It lived deep in the sea all year round and only showed up every New Year’s Eve to feast on people and livestock in nearby villages.
The villagers lived in fear of this monster, unsure of how to protect themselves. Each New Year’s Eve, they would flee to remote mountains to avoid harm. This routine of fear continued until an old man with white hair and a ruddy complexion visited the village.
A kind old woman tried to persuade him to hide in the mountains along with the other villagers, but the old man refused. "Don’t worry! Let me stay in your house tonight. I have a way to tame the monster," he assured her.
As night fell, Nian appeared, ravenous and searching for food. It approached the old woman’s house, where the old man was waiting. The monster halted in its tracks upon seeing that the doors and windows were adorned with red papers. At that moment, a loud cracking sound erupted in the courtyard, scaring Nian away. The house was suddenly illuminated, and the old man emerged from behind the door, dressed entirely in red. Terrified, the beast fled back to the sea.
According to ancient Chinese legend, setting off firecrackers helps to scare away Nian. File photo
The next day, when the villagers returned, they were astonished to find their village intact. Curious to learn the truth, they flocked to the old woman’s house and found the red papers on the doors and windows, candles lit inside, and the unburnt bamboo in the courtyard. The villagers soon realized that the cracking of burning bamboo, the red color, and the bright light were magical elements that scared away Nian.
From that point on, every New Year’s Eve, people followed the old man’s instructions, and the monster Nian never returned. This led to the tradition of pasting red spring couplets, lighting candles, burning bamboo, and later setting off fireworks to ward off evil spirits.
Visitors choose Chinese New Year decorations at a flower fair at the Festival Avenue in Futian District. Liu Xudong
Many of these traditions have been passed down to this day. Reflecting the story, Chinese New Year is referred to as "guò nián," which means surviving Nian's attack. As a result, red has become the most popular color for festival celebrations and clothing.
