Mythological Creature That is Still Believed to Exist Until Now #5
NIAN
Who does not know the Chinese New Year. Lunar New Year is the most important celebration of Chinese people. Lunar New Year celebration begins on the first day of the first month, but do you know the reason why Chinese New Year is always synonymous with firecrackers and noise. The reason is to chase off the evil spirits as encapsulated by Nian.
What Exactly Nian is ?
In Chinese mythology, Nian or also known as Nian Shou is a kind of wild beings who live on the seabed or in the mountains which comes at the end of winter to eat crops, cattle and even villagers. Nian has a mixed body of a bull and the head of a lion with a long head and sharp horns. ancient people in China believed that Nian would eat the food they had prepared and would not attack people or steal livestock and harvest.
At one time, the villagers saw that Nian had run out of fear after meeting a child wearing a red outfit. The inhabitants then believe that Nian is afraid of the red color, so that every time the new year arrives, the residents will hang lanterns and red paper rolls on windows and doors.
According to legend, the Nian was eventually captured by Hongjun Laozu, an ancient Taoist monk, and Nian became Hongjun Laozu's mount. After Nian was captured, everyone had a big celebration and the ritual involved in banishing him was repeated the following year, and so the ritual was passed down from generation to generation and the custom of celebrating New Year with firecrackers, noise, and the colour red has persisted to this day.
GONG XI FA CAI !
And Happy Lunar New Year
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