Chinese New Year History Story

The origin of the festival can be traced back to the worshiping activities in china s ancient agrarian society.

Chinese new year history story. One legend is that thousands of years ago a monster named nian year would attack villagers at the beginning of each new year. It dwelled deep in the sea all year round and only showed up every new year s eve to eat people and livestock in nearby villages. In 1912 the newly formed chinese republic governed by the nationalist party renamed the traditional holiday spring festival to get the chinese people to transition into celebrating the western new year.

Chinese new year has enjoyed a history of about 3 500 years. Chinese new year story legend of monster nian chinese new year spring festival is the oldest traditional festival in china but a few people concern the origin and story behind the holiday. The calendar is also used in countries that have been influenced by or have relations with china such as korea japan and vietnam though occasionally the date celebrated may differ by one day or even one moon cycle due to using a meridian based on a different capital city in a different time zone or different.

It is unclear when exactly the celebration of the new year began in china. In 2021 chinese new year will begin on february 12. Chinese new year s day is called guo nian 过年 in chinese which can mean celebrate a new year or overcome nian.

The origins of the chinese new year are steeped in legend. A fairy disguised as an elderly man saved a town from a terrible. The origins of this renaming from chinese new year to spring festival are fascinating and not widely known.

Tied to the chinese lunar calendar the holiday was traditionally a time to honor. The monster was afraid of loud noises bright lights and the colour red so those things were used to chase the beast away. The date for the ceremony wasn t fixed till the han dynasty 202 bc 220 ad when emperor wudi commanded to use the lunar calendar.

The character 年 nián could mean a year or the monster nian. Chinese new year is the most important holiday in china. Its exact beginning is not recorded.