The legend of the Monster Chinese New Year, Nian
An ancient Chinese legend tells the story of a man-eating beast called Nian predatory extremely violent, with a long head and sharp horn. Nian lived in the sea throughout the year, but every Chinese New Year's Eve She got up on the shore to devour animals and harm humans in a nearby village. Therefore, each Chinese New Year's Eve, all the villagers had to deposit their old and young in the mountains to hide Nian.
A day before Chinese New Year is a gray-haired man appeared in the village. He asked permission to spend the night and everyone was sure was going to look at the beast. Nobody believed him. Moreover, the old man always refused to go to the mountains to hide. Seeing that he could convince villagers left without him.
When the beast came to the village to wreck havoc as usual, was greeted with a sudden burst of exploding firecrackers. Startled by the noise, light rays, and red flags flying in the background, suddenly turned and fled!
The next day, as people returning of the mountain, they found the village intact and safe. The old man was gone, but found the remains of three valuable points you used to chase the beast Nian away. All agreed that the elder must be a god who had come to help free the beast.
Therefore, the eve of every New Year, families Chinese hanging red flags, set off firecrackers and light the fires all night, waiting for the Chinese New Year. The custom spread everywhere and became in a traditional celebration of the great "passing Nian" ( "Nian" in Chinese means "year").
So celebrate Chinese New Year is called "step of Nian" or "Guo Nian" in Chinese. However, the term has been gradually replaced by "Spring Festival" after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took power in 1949. Gradually people have forgotten the legend the origin of these traditions of Chinese New Year. It is a small example of how the CCP has robbed the Chinese people of their rich traditional culture.
New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV) is working hard to reverse this loss. In its 2006 Chinese New Year Global Gala actually put the ancient story of Nian monster on stage. NTDTV Chinese New Year shows are a unique opportunity to discover the magic of traditional Chinese culture. Marvelous music, ancient instruments, magnificent scenery, gorgeous costumes, and first class performers – are for the entertainment exceptional reflecting 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and traditional culture – a culture rich in myths and legends of dollars to care for and preserve.
Between January and March 2007, the Chinese New Year Spectacular NTDTV Atlanta visit Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington, DC, and major cities in Canada, Europe and Asia. http://shows.ntdtv.com
About the Author
Jason Huang writes on cultures and traditions. For more info about NTDTV’s Chinese New Year Spectacular, please visit:
http://shows.ntdtv.com
http://www.ntdtv.com
Rev Bertrand Bailey Jr New Years Eve service (Washington DC)