The origin of Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, can be traced back to ancient China. It is a time for family reunions and celebrating the beginning of a new lunar year. The tradition dates back thousands of years, with various legends and stories explaining its origins.
One popular legend tells of a mythical beast called Nian (Year in Chinese), which would terrorize villages at the end of each year. To scare away the beast, people would hang red lanterns, paste red paper cutouts, and set off fireworks. These practices, along with the belief that Nian was afraid of the color red and loud noises, eventually evolved into the customs associated with Chinese New Year celebrations today.
