The concise origin of New Year's Eve

Legend one

In Cangzhou, Hebei, from 23rd to 30th, every household is very busy. Staying up late on New Year's Eve is called "Shounian". This custom has something to do with Grandma Chef.

The jade emperor's little daughter is virtuous and kind, and sympathizes with the poor in the world. She has a crush on a poor young man who cooks for others. The Jade Emperor was very angry when he learned that, so he put his little daughter on the ground and suffered with the poor young man. The Queen Mother sympathized with her daughter and interceded for her. The Jade Emperor reluctantly gave the poor boy a "kitchen god's position". The poor boy became the "kitchen god" of every household, and the jade emperor's little daughter naturally became the "grandmother of the kitchen god".

Grandma Chef knows well the sufferings of the people, and often brings back some food, drink, clothes and necessities from the sky in the name of going back to her parents' home to visit relatives and distribute them to the poor people. The Jade Emperor disliked the poor son-in-law and little daughter very much. He was very angry when he heard that the little daughter had brought something back from the sky. He stipulated that they were not allowed to return to the Heavenly Palace until the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, and were not allowed to return to heaven at the rest of the year.

The next year, the Spring Festival is coming, but the poor are still short of this and that, and some can't even lift the lid. Grandma Wang sees it in her eyes and hurts in her heart. The 23rd of the twelfth lunar month is coming, and she is going to go back to her parents' house to get something to eat for the poor. However, there are no stars in my house. What if there is no dry food on the road? When people knew about it, you and I made some customized noodles to celebrate our birthday, baked two cakes and took them to Grandma Chef on the way.

Grandma Chef returned to heaven and told the Jade Emperor about human sufferings. But the Jade Emperor was not only unsympathetic, but also suspected that his daughter had brought back evil spirits and asked her to go back that night. Grandma Chef was so angry that she had to leave at once. On second thought, no, how can I tell the people when I go back empty-handed? Besides, it's not cheap for a cruel father. At this time, it happened that the Queen Mother also came to accompany her, so she said, "I'm not leaving. I will take my broom home tomorrow and sweep away poverty. "

On the 24th, Grandma Kitchen God was tying a broom, and the Jade Emperor came to urge her to go back quickly. She said, "What's the hurry? It's almost Spring Festival. There is no tofu at home. I'm going to turn tofu tomorrow. "

On the 25th, Grandma Kitchen God was cutting tofu, and the Jade Emperor came to urge her to hurry back. She said, "What's the hurry? I have to cut the meat tomorrow! "

On the 26th day, Grandma Kitchen God had just finished cutting the meat, and the Jade Emperor urged her to hurry back. She said, "What's the hurry? My family is too poor to afford a chicken. I will kill the chicken tomorrow! "

On the 27th, Grandma Kitchen God was killing chickens, and the Jade Emperor came to urge her to hurry back. She said, "What's the hurry? Bring some dry food on the road, and I will send flour steamed bread tomorrow! " "

On 28th, Grandma Kitchen God was steaming steamed bread, and the Jade Emperor came to urge her to hurry back. She said, "What's the hurry? I want to have a wedding reception in the New Year and drink tomorrow! "

On the 29th, Grandma Kitchen God just came back from drinking wine, and the Jade Emperor came to urge her to hurry back. She said, "What's the hurry? We can't even eat jiaozi all the year round, and we have to pack jiaozi tomorrow! "

On the 30th, Grandma Chef is wrapping jiaozi. The jade emperor was furious and asked her to go back today. Grandma Kitchen God prepared almost everything, so she didn't say much, but she couldn't bear to leave the Heavenly Palace until dark. That night, every household didn't sleep, waiting for Grandma Cook to come back.

When people saw Grandma Cook coming back and brought back many good things for the New Year, they all lit incense, paper yards and firecrackers to welcome Grandma Cook. At this time, it is the fifth watch of the New Year's Eve.

In memory of Grandma Cook, people will never forget her kindness. Every year, on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, people will offer sacrifices to the stove and stay up for 30 nights, which is called "Shounian". Others call it "forbearance for a hundred years". This is waiting for the virtuous and kind grandma Chef Wang to come back from heaven. This custom has been passed down to this day.

Legend 2

The trend of observing the age rose in the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and many scholars in the Liang Dynasty had poems about observing the age. "One night for two years, five hours for two years." People light candles or oil lamps and keep vigil all night, which symbolizes driving away all evil diseases and looking forward to good luck in the new year. This custom has been handed down from generation to generation.

Legend 3

Keeping old at the age of 30, commonly known as endure the year. Why is it called endure the year? There is an interesting story spread from generation to generation among the people: It is said that there was a fierce monster in the flood era in ancient times, which people called Nian.

Every New Year's Eve, Nian beast will climb out of the sea to kill people and animals, destroy the countryside and bring disaster to people who have worked hard for a year. In order to avoid the Nian beast, people close their doors early on the thirtieth night of the twelfth lunar month, dare not sleep, wait until dawn, drink to kill time and encourage family reunion. On the first morning of the new year, you dare not go out until the Nian beast comes out. When people saw it, they bowed to each other, congratulated each other, and were glad that they had not been eaten by Nian beast. After many years, nothing happened, and people relaxed their vigilance against Nian beast.

On the evening of 30th one year, Nian beast suddenly fled to a village in the south of the Yangtze River. A village was almost eaten up by Nian beast, and only a pair of newly-married couples in red curtains were safe and sound. There are also some childish people who lit a pile of bamboo and played in the yard. The flame was red, and the bamboo exploded after burning. Nian Beast turned around here and ran away in fear when he saw the flame. From then on, people know that Nian beast is afraid of red, light and noise. At the end of each year, every household sticks red paper, wears red robes, hangs red lights, beats gongs and drums, and sets off firecrackers, so that Nian Beasts dare not come again. There is a record about the light of Tingliao in The Book of Songs Xiaoya Tingliao. The so-called pavilion is a torch made of bamboo poles and the like. After the bamboo pole burns, the air in the bamboo joint expands, and the bamboo cavity bursts and crackles, which is the origin of firecrackers.

However, villagers in some places don't know that Nian beast is afraid of red and is often eaten by Nian beast. This story later spread to Zixing in the sky. In order to save people, he is determined to destroy Nian beast. One year the beast came out, knocked it down with a fireball and chained it to a stone pillar with a thick chain. From then on, every New Year, people always burn incense and ask Zixing to come down to keep safe. [ 1]