History of Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year has a great history. It has been practiced by all Chinese around the world. Even the other races and religions are celebrating it nowadays and practices the culture as well. Now do you know how it is all started ?

It is all started out because of fear. It is all based on a story which is centuries old ago and it passed down from a teller to teller. It was about a terrible mythical monster who look like a giant lion and it was named Nian (年) which is also the meaning of YEAR. It preyed on villagers and everyone are in feared everyday.



One day, an old wise man came out with a plan by making loud noises with drums and firecrackers and hanging red paper cutouts, scrolls on their doors for reasons. Why red paper ? because the Nian is scared of the color red. The villagers then took the old man's advice. On a cold moonless night, the Nian came and hunt them again. However, all of the villagers were so cooperative and they follow the old man's advice. The noise of drums and gongs as well as the lighting bamboo frighten the Nian. At that moment when the Nian is weaken, they jumped up and killed the monster together.



That day onward, it became an anniversary of the date. The Chinese recognize the "passing of the Nian" known in Chinese as "Guo Nian" (过年), which is also synonymous with celebrating the new year.

Some people may ask, why Chinese New Year celebrate different dates every year. The date of Chinese New Year changes every year because it is based on the Lunar Calendar, while the western based on Gregorian calendar which is calculate the earth's orbit around the sun. Easier way to find out when is Chinese New Year, is to observe the moon after winter solstice. It is falls on the next new moon after Winter Solstice.

Below is the picture that how recent days Chinese celebrate CNY. They all came together and share the joy and happiness.