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The Story Of Nian The Monster

A long time ago, there was amonster called Nián.

The monster was large and ferocious. He looked like a lion but he had a single horn on his head.

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Once a year, the monster would run intothe local village, destroying the crops,eating the livestock and even some of thevillagers!

Everyone in the village was terrified of themonster.So, each New Year’s Eve, they would packup their belongings and escape into the mountains before Nian came.

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One year, the villagers were busy packing up so that they could escape to the mountains, when an old traveller wandered into the village, asking for food and shelter but everyone was too busy packing and saidthat they couldn’t help.

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An old woman saw the man and offered himsome steamed dumplings. She told him toeat up and head for the mountains as Nian would soon be here.The old man was so touched by her kindness that he wanted to repay her, so he asked if he could stay in her home for one night. He promised that by the time she returned, the monster would be gone and would never bother the village again.

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The old woman seemed unsure, but he toldher not to worry because he knew a hiddensecret of how to get rid of the monster.

She agreed to let himstay. So she packedup her things and

headed to the safetyof the mountains.

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That night after midnight, Nian came downto terrorise the village.

He saw a light on in theold woman’s home and began to lick his lips at the thought of what waited for him inside.

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Just as Nian was about to enter the house,he spotted two large red banners andbegan to shiver in fear.Then he saw a bright light, followed by thedeafening sound of firecrackers!

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The monster was so terrified that he ranaway, back to the ocean he came from andnever returned, just as the old man hadpromised.Later, the villagers returned to find theirhomes and livestock were all safe andwondered what had happened.

The old man explained thatthe monster is afraid of 3things, the colour red,fire and loud noises.

This is why people in China celebrate theway they do - with lots of fireworks, musicand decorate their homes andcities with red lanterns and other reddecorations.

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Since that day, every Chinese New Year’sEve, the villagers would decorate theirhouses in red, hang red lanternsand set off firecrackers to keep Nian away.

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