CULTURE NURTURE: The Nián Monster and the Chinese Lunar New Year

The Chinese civilization is the longest continuous civilization in the world, stretching thousands of years. A lot of Chinese history, culture, and accomplishments had been documented since it was the Chinese who invented paper and printing, and has one of the oldest writing systems in the world. Yet much more had been lost to antiquity and many events, mostly legendary and mythical, have only found their way to our generation via oral traditions. One of these is the legend of the beast Nián 年 which is tied to many beliefs and practices during the Chinese New Year.

Whereas majority of the world now uses the Gregorian calendar, the Chinese makes use of their own lunar calendar. The Chinese New Year is the most important event of the year. It is actually a 15-day festival in China and Chinatowns worldwide, starting with the new moon that falls sometime between January 21 and February 20 of the Gregorian calendar. 7 of the 15 days of the Chinese New Year are designated as a day off for people in China since the mid 1990’s and is called Spring Festival (春節 / 春节 Chūnjié), which is sometimes used to refer to the Chinese New Year in general. Countries that celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year include China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam among others.

According to a Chinese legend, thousands of years ago the monster Nián 年, who lived at the bottom of the sea or in the mountains, would show up once a year, on the eve of every Lunar New Year, to terrorize villages, feasting on crops, livestock, and/or people, most especially children. Soon the situation became worse that the villagers would leave their home to hide in the remote mountains to escape the beast.

One Lunar New Year’s Eve, an old beggar or an old man that was actually a deity in disguise, depending on the source or version of the oral tradition, appeared in the village, decorated the houses red, wore red himself, and prepared fireworks for the monster. When the Nián finally showed up it was easily scared away by the color red and the loud noise of firecrackers. The Nián never showed itself ever again.

This legend of the Nián is cited as the origin of the tradition of decorating homes red, wearing red, and lighting firecrackers on the eve of every Lunar New Year to drive evil spirits away and to attract good fortune. The immigrant Chinese brought these customs to Philippine shores and are still observed to this day.

The Hànzì (Chinese character) for the mythical monster is the same ideograph used in Chinese for “year”in countries where firecrackers are banned, loud music and boisterous performances are used in replacement.* (James U. Sy, Jr. – TTHS Batch 1991 )