It is said that there was a monster called “Nian” who had four hands and four feet. The image og “Nian” is a typical imagination of monsters in Chinese culture. Due to winter snow cover and food shortages, it often went to a nearby village to find something to eat. Because it has huge body, grumpy and ferocious temper, it had brought great disaster to the villagers. By the end of every twelfth month of the lunar year, young and old people are sorting clothes to hide in the nearby bamboo forest to avoid disaster.

 

One year's New Year's Eve, folks are busy packing things fled to the mountains. This time, a white-haired old man coming from the east of the village, said to the old lady just let him spend the night at her house. He said that he will be able to drive away the beast. People do not believe the old man to go up to the mountain to escape, but the old man insisted on not to leave. As the villagers cannot persuade him the escape, they have to go up the mountain and left the old man in the village.

 

When the "Nian" beast broke into the village and prepared to rage as in previous years, it suddenly came a loud noise of firecrackers which was lit by the old man. "Nian" began to tremble and no longer dare to scrape forward. The "Nian" beast fear red flames and exploding. At this time, the door was wide open, an old man who was wearing a red gown roared with laughter. The "Nian" beast was shocked and desperate to flee.

 

The next day, when people came back from the mountains and went back to the village, they found the village safe. And they suddenly realized that the white-haired old man is a god to help them expel the "Nina" beast. They also found the way the white-haired old man expulsed the "Nian" beast. Since then, on the annual New Year's Eve, everyone began to stick red couplets, lit on firecrackers and household lights. This custom have been spread and has become China's most ceremonious traditional folk festival "New Year".

 

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