Terrifying Nien Monster Attacks A Chinese Mountain Village

The myth of Nien is one of the most popular legends associated with the Chinese New Year. According to legend, Nien was a terrible monster that lived deep in the mountains or in the sea. At the end of each year, it came out of its hiding place and attacked the villages - destroying the crops, eating the livestock and instilling fear among the people. Therefore, the night before the New Year was a time of anxiety and hiding. One year, an old stranger appeared in the village. While everyone was preparing to run away and hide, he remained calm. The old man discovered that the monster had weaknesses - it was afraid of the color red, loud noises and bright lights. He hung red cloths on the doors, lit a fire and bamboo sticks that crackled loudly in the flames. When Nien appeared, he was blinded by the light, frightened by the red decorations and deafened by the noise. The monster ran away and never returned. Since then, people have been decorating their homes in red every year, lighting lanterns and fireworks, and celebrating noisily to drive away evil and welcome a new beginning. With love from China!