Origin of the Spring Festival

Legend of the origin of the Spring Festival (1)

The Spring Festival originated in "Yu Shun". In 2 174 BC, there was a place called Yaoqiu in Shangpu Jingshan, Shangyu, where a couple lived. The male host is called Gu Sou because of his eye disease, and his wife is called the Gryphon. One night, the Gryphon dreamed that he was troubled by a rainbow. After waking up, he found a local fortune teller and calculated a divination. Mr Griffin was told that it was a symbol of good luck. Gripen is five months pregnant. After the child was born, the husband and wife found that the child was binocular, so they named the child Zhong Hua and the child Yu Shun.

And because Yu Shun was born on New Year's Eve, his nickname was given to New Year's Eve. With the growth of Yu Shun, his talent and ability are outstanding, so Yao Chan ceded the throne to Yu Shun, and Shun designated the day when he was born as "Year" and the next day as New Year, which has been used by later generations ever since.

Legend of the origin of the Spring Festival (2)

The Spring Festival originated in the Year of the Animal. According to legend, in ancient times, there was a monster named Nian, who had long tentacles on his head and was fierce and unusual. Nian animals live in the deep sea for a long time, and only on New Year's Eve will they climb ashore every year, devouring livestock and killing people. So on New Year's Eve, almost all the villagers took refuge in the mountains. Because the mountain is steep, Nian beast can't climb it.

Once, an old woman had no time to go up the mountain because her legs and feet were inconvenient. At this time, the fierce Nian beast came and opened his mouth to pounce on the old woman. Suddenly, a Taoist priest came out and lit a string of "gunpowder" wrapped in red paper, still facing Nian beast directly. Suddenly, it flourished. After the Nian beast touched the fire, it trembled all over, and fled into the sea with a long whistle, and there was no movement.

Early the next morning (New Year's Day), people came back one after another. After learning the news, every household set off firecrackers, lit red candles and posted couplets. Nian beast will never make trouble again. On the first morning, he had to congratulate his relatives and friends and say hello. As the saying of "Year of the Beast" is more and more widely circulated, the Spring Festival has become the most solemn traditional festival among the people in China.