Stories and legends about China New Year.

1. Here is a widely circulated story. Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a small demon with black hands and white body, named Chong, who came out to harm people every New Year's Eve. It touched the head of the sleeping child three times with its hand, and the child cried with fear. Then he had a fever, talked nonsense and got sick from then on. After a few days, the fever subsided, but the clever child became a dementia fool. People are afraid that fetishism will harm children, so they sit up with lights on, which is called "fetishism".

In Jiaxing, there is a family named Guan, and the husband and wife have a son in their later years, which is regarded as the apple of their eye. On New Year's Eve, I forced them to play for fear that they would harm the children. The child wrapped eight copper coins in red paper, opened them, opened them again, and played until he fell asleep. Eight wrapped copper coins are placed on the pillow. The couple didn't dare to close their eyes and stayed with their children all night. In the middle of the night, a strong wind blew the door open and blew out the lights. When the little black boy touched the child's head with his bare hands, a light broke into the child's pillow. Chong hurriedly withdrew his hand and ran away screaming. Mr. and Mrs. Guan told everyone that wrapping eight copper coins in red paper was to scare away those special people. Everyone also learned to wrap eight copper coins in red paper and put them on pillows after the children's New Year's Eve. Sure enough, I never dare to hurt children again. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, most lucky money was given to children with red ropes. After the Republic of China, it evolved into wrapping 100 copper coins in red paper, which means "long life" and giving lucky money to adult generations. Red paper is wrapped in an ocean, symbolizing "abundant financial resources" and "millions of profits".

2. Legend has it that there is a monster called Nian Beast. It lives in water. Speaking of going ashore in the first month of the lunar calendar, people all fled to the deep mountains. At that time, there was an old woman When she was about to flee to the deep mountains, she saw Grandpa White Beard. She said, "Don't wait here, just go!" Grandpa said, "I'm not leaving!" " "When the old woman heard the old man say this, she had to flee to the deep mountains.

In the middle of the night, Grandpa White Beard also returned to his village. He posted red paper in front of the door. The room was red and bright, and there was a loud noise of burning bamboo. Nian beast heard and saw this, and it began to run.

It was discovered the next day; Grandpa has several things at home: bamboo, red paper and lanterns.

Now people use firecrackers, red paper and firelight. It turns into firecrackers because when bamboo burns, it is the sound of thunder. Red paper itself is red paper, and the reason for lanterns is that lanterns shine and the fire is light.