The ancient monster, the loud sounds, and the color red.
年獸的故事：為什麼我們慶祝春節。
Family, lucky foods, and the meaning of each dish.
年夜飯：家人、團圓與吉祥菜。
How we wish each other well, and a tradition for children.
吉祥話與紅包：問候與祝福的傳統。
From New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival's bright finale.
從除夕到元宵節，十五天的慶典。
A long time ago, a monster named Nian lived deep in the mountains. Every year on the last night of winter, Nian came down to the village to scare people and eat their food.
One year, an old man taught the villagers a secret. Nian was afraid of three things: the color red, bright lights, and very loud sounds.
So the villagers hung red couplets on every door, lit firecrackers in the streets, and stayed up all night with the lanterns on. Nian ran away and never came back. From that night on, families have celebrated the new year together — to thank each other, and to welcome a fresh start.
很久以前，山上住著一隻叫「年」的怪獸，每到冬天的最後一夜就下山騷擾村民。一位老人教大家三個秘訣：紅色、亮光、巨響。從此以後，每逢過年，家家戶戶貼春聯、放鞭炮、點燈籠，全家熬夜守歲，一起迎接新的一年。