Chinese New Year story—legend of Monster Nian

西安外国语大学 史天彩

Jutroduction

烟花闪耀、辞旧迎新的除夕是表达祝福、传递祝盼的时间，寓意美好与祥和。除夕之后便迎来了全国庆祝的传统节日——春节，而春节的来历可以追溯到一个关于怪兽“年”的故事……

Chinese New Year(also called the Spring Festival)is the oldest traditional festival in China,but what is the origin behind the festival?It could betraced back toa popular story of the Monster Nian,which helps to explain why and how the festival is celebrated.

According to the Chinese ancient legend,there was a violent and ugly monster named “Nian” with sharp teeth and horns.Living in the dark sea for a long time,the beast would climb up the shore by the end of the lunar year,hunting people and farm animals of a village.Therefore,every time before theNew Year's Eve,all the villagers would lock their doors before sunset and escape to remote mountains to avoid Nian's attack.

One New Near's Eve,a beggar came to the village and changed the bad situation.The old man asked to stay one night in a granny's house.He promised he would expel（驱逐）away the frightening beastin reward.The granny agreed and escaped to the mountain alone.

At midnight,the monster broke into the village,but it sensed the change of the atmosphere.Approaching the house slowly,it found all the doors and windows pasted with red papers and many candles lit inside the house.

The beasttrembledand howled,glaring at all strange things.At that moment,loud cracking sound burst in the courtyard,daunting（使胆怯）Nian not to dare come closer.The front door was opened in a flash,and the old man came out in red clothes,roaring with laughter（放声大笑）.The monster was badly frightened,running away through the dark night.

After that,villagers were enlightened by the truth that the bamboo burning cracking,red color and bright light were magic keys to scare away the monster.

Since then,on every New Year's Eve,villagers would celebrate the triumph over the monster.People always pasted red spring couplets （贴对联）,hung lanterns and set off fireworks.They dressed in new and visited neighbors to share the joy.Everyone was immersed（沉浸）in happiness.

The traditions are passed on from one generation to another till today.According to the story,Chinese New Year's Day is also called“Guo Nian”,which means “surviving the Nian”.The red also becomes the most popular color for festival celebration.

Reading Check

1.When did the Monster Nian appear to hunt people and farm animals?

A.After New Year's Eve.

B.The first day of a month.

C.The end of the lunar year.

D.The beginning of the lunar year.

2.What can be inferred about Nian according to the text？

A.It was a kind of evil beasts.

B.It usually appeared at dawn.

C.It was afraid of shiny couplets.

D.It became a friendly beast in the end.

Using Language

I.Important vocabulary in the text

1.tremble v.发抖；战栗；摇晃 n.颤抖；战栗；哆嗦

2.triumph n.伟大胜利；重大成就

3.trace back to... 追溯到……

4.New Year's Eve 除夕

5.in reward 作为回报；作为报酬

6.set off 出发；动身；引发；使爆炸

Ⅱ.Complete the following sentences in correct formswiththevocabularygivenabove.

1.The dangerous situation increases her heart rate,making her hands_________.

2.The origin of the Silk Road can be the history of Zhang Qian's visit to the Western Region.

3.I brought him a book_________for his help.

Ⅲ.Complete the sentences based on the text.

1.__________(approach)the house slowly,it found all the doors and windows pasted with red papers and many candles__________（light）inside the house.

2.Soon,villagers were enlightened by the truth___________thebambooburningcracking,red color and bright light were magic keys to scare away the monster.