The Story of Nian and Chinese New Year
Watch the story of Nian and learn why people wear red, light firecrackers and bang drums to celebrate Chinese New Year.
Discovering the Story of Nian
Once Upon a time, there was a monster called Nian with long, sharp teeth and giant claws.
At the end of the Lunar New Year, Nian would go to the villages to hunt for food. Nian liked to eat anything he could lay his claws on and ruin people鈥檚 homes and crops. People feared Nian and would hide in the mountains and they wouldn't return to their village until Nian had left!
One day, an old man came down from the mountains and he told the villagers that Nian was afraid of three things: Loud noises, the colour red and bright lights.
So, on Nian鈥檚 next visit, people banged drums, wore the colour red and lit fireworks to scare Nian away and he never came back.
Each year, Nian鈥檚 defeat is celebrated by making loud noises, wearing red and letting off fireworks.
Find out more about Lunar New Year with CBeebies
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