TheOriginofChineseNewYear

　　TheChineseNewYearisnowpopularlyknownastheSpringFestivalbecauseitstartsfromtheBeginingofSpring（thefirstofthetwentyfourtermsincoodinationwiththechangesofNature）。Itsoriginistoooldtobetraced。Severalexplanationsarehangingaround。Allagree，however，thatthewordNian，whichinmodernChinesesolelymeansyear，wasoriginallythenameofamonsterbeastthatstartedtopreyonpeoplethenightbeforethebeginningofanewyear。
　　OnelegendgoesthatthebeastNianhadaverybigmouththatwouldswallowagreatmanypeoplewithonebite。Peoplewereveryscared。Oneday，anoldmancametotheirrescue，offeringtosubdueNian。ToNianhesaid，Ihearsaythatyouareverycapable，butcanyouswallowtheotherbeastsofpreyonearthinsteadofpeoplewhoarebynomeansofyourworthyopponents？So，itdidswallowmanyofthebeastsofpreyonearththatalsoharrassedpeopleandtheirdomesticanimalsfromtimetotime。
　　Afterthat，theoldmandisappearedridingthebeastNian。Heturnedouttobeanimmortalgod。NowthatNianisgoneandotherbeastsofpreyarealsoscaredintoforests，peoplebegintoenjoytheirpeacefullife。Beforetheoldmanleft，hehadtoldpeopletoputupredpaperdecorationsontheirwindowsanddoorsateachyear39；sendtoscareawayNianincaseitsneakedbackagain，becauseredisthecolorthebeastfearedthemost。
　　Fromthenon，thetraditionofobservingtheconquestofNianiscarriedonfromgenerationtogeneration。ThetermGuoNian，whichmaymeanSurvivetheNianbecomestodayCelebratethe（New）YearasthewordguoinChinesehavingboththemeaningofpassoverandobserve。ThecustomofputtingupredpaperandfiringfirecrackerstoscareawayNianshouldithaveachancetorunlooseisstillaround。However，peopletodayhavelongforgottenwhytheyaredoingallthis，exceptthattheyfeelthecolorandthesoundaddtotheexcitementofthecelebration。