ChineseNewYear

　　Itsoriginisancient,butmanybelievethewordNian,whichmeans"year",wasthenameofabeastthatpreyedonpeopleontheeveofanewyear.

　　Inonelegend,thebeast,Nian,hadthepowertoswallowupallthepeopleinavillageinonebigbite.VillagepeoplewereveryscaredofNian.58en.com

　　Oneday,anoldmancametothevillagers'rescue,offeringtosubdueNian.TheoldmanaskedNian,"Iknowyoucanswallowpeople,butcanyouswallowotherbeastsofpreyinsteadofpeoplewhoarebynomeansyourworthyopponents?"

　　Nianacceptedtheoldman'schallengeandswallowedthebeaststhathadharassedthevillagersandtheirfarmanimalsforyears.www.58en.com

　　Attheendofthelegend,theoldmandisappearedridingoffonNian.Inthislegend,theoldmanturnedouttobeanimmortalgod.58英语,简单学习

　　Intheend,Nianisgoneandtheotherbeastsofpreyarescaredintohidingintheforests.Thevillagerscanonceagainenjoytheirpeacefullife.www.58en.com

　　Thelegendgoesontosaybeforetheoldmanleft,hetoldthevillagerstoputredpaperdecorationsontheirwindowsanddoorsateachyear'sendinordertokeepNianaway.ItisbelievedNianisafraidofthecolorred.

　　ThetraditionofobservingtheconquestofNianiscarriedonfromgenerationtogeneration.Theterm"GuoNian",whichmeans"SurvivetheNian"became"CelebratetheYear"andtheword"guo"inChinesemeansboth"passover"and"observe".58英语

　　ThecustomofputtingupredpaperandlightingfirecrackerstoscareawayNiancontinuestoday.