Once upon a time, long long ago, there was a man-eating monster called “Nian”. This beast lived deep in the ocean. It was sleeping all the days of the year, except the last day of the Lunar year, when the cold winter months turned into Spring.

This was the night that everyone felt terror! Nian came on the land to attack, and eat whatever it could find and whatever came across on its way. This was the night that everyone felt terror!

Year after year Nian returned, as this was a beast that was far too powerful for anyone to defeat. Many tried and all perished. On New Year´s eve, all the villagers would take their loved ones, old and young, deep into the mountains to shelter from the beast.

One night, a traveller came to the town, looking for food and shelter One night, a traveller came to the town, looking for food and shelter. Everyone, with the exception of an old lady, was far too busy packing to pay him any kindness or offer him a simple plate of dumplings or a place to sleep. After his meal, the passerby was touched by the old lady´s generosity and decided to bestow an old secret of how to be rid of the New Year beast.

The evening when Nian arrived at their village, all the houses were dark, except the one in which the old woman lived. As Nian saw the light, it licked its lips approaching house.

Suddenly, it was greeted with deafening noises of firecrackers sounding endlessly. The monster was frightened and startled!

Then, the beast saw that the house was covered with red paper.

That scared Nian even more, and it escaped running back into the ocean.

When the villagers returned, they saw that the old woman was unharmed When the villagers returned, they saw that the old woman was unharmed! Everyone was eager to know what she had done to survive Nian.

The old woman told the villagers that Nian was afraid of loud noises and red color.

The next New year, the villagers stayed awake all night, theke were firecrackers, lighting red lanterns all around their houses, attached red paper on their walls and doors, wore red clothing, dancing to the loud music, and banged loud gongs and drums.

That year and every year since, Nian has never returned That year and every year since, Nian has never returned. This eventually became a tradition and the way to celebrate Chinese New Year.