Monster Nian
The story of the Monster nian is a legend and it tells of a beast called Nian, extremely fierce, with a long head and sharp horn. Every Chinese New Year eve he would go to the village and would eat livestock and harm humans. Every Chinese New Year's Eve, all the villagers would take their old and young deep into the mountains to hide from Nian. One New Year's Eve a man appeared in the village. He asked if he could stay for the night and told everyone that he would chase away the beast. No one believed him. He didn't want to go to the mountains to hide. So the others left. When the beast came to ruin the village, the old man set off exploding firecrackers. Scared by noise, the light, and red banners, Monster Nian ran away. The next day the people came back from the mountains they found the village safe and clean. The old man had left, but they found the remains of the things that the old man used to chase the beast Nian away. They all agreed that the old man had come to help free them of the beast. From now on, every Chinese New Year's Eve, families would hang red banners, set off fire crackers, and leave there lamps on all night, awaiting the Chinese New Year. The story spread around and became the traditional celebration of the "Passing of Nian."