To my friend Daniel Lee
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The legend of the Nian monster tells of . Discovering Nian feared the color red, loud noises, and fire, villagers began using red lanterns, decorations, and firecrackers to frighten it away, establishing core traditions.
The legend of Nian . Villagers discovered the creature feared the color red, loud noises, and fire, using these to scare it away, which established the traditions of red decorations and firecrackers.
The Nian is a mythical monster from Chinese folklore, . According to legend, it was scared away by firecrackers and the color red, never to return to villages. While some legends say it still exists in the mountains or sea, it is generally considered a symbolic myth.
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Chinese New Year is celebrated between late January and mid-February because . It occurs on the second new moon after the winter solstice, usually marking the beginning of spring and the agricultural cycle, ensuring the holiday aligns with moon phases rather than a fixed date.
Key reasons for the February timing include:
Lunisolar Calendar: The Chinese calendar uses both the phases of the moon and the solar year to determine months and seasons, causing the date to shift annually within a 29-day window (Jan 21 – Feb 20).
The Second New Moon: The holiday, or Spring Festival, is officially set on the second new moon following the winter solstice, which often falls in early-to-mid February.
Seasonal Significance: It acts as a "Spring Festival" (春节), signaling the start of spring and warmer weather, rather than the start of the calendar year.
For example, in 2026, the Chinese New Year falls on February 17, 2026.
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The primary reason why do Chinese have a different new year every year is . While most of the world uses the Gregorian (solar) calendar—based solely on Earth's orbit around the Sun—China traditionally relies on a system that combines both lunar months and solar years.
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To access BrainPOP videos on Chinese New Year (officially titled "Lunar New Year" on the platform), you can use the following information to generate a QR code.
Note: Access to full BrainPOP videos requires a subscription.
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Direct BrainPOP Video Links
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BrainPOP (Grades 3+): Lunar New Year - BrainPOP
BrainPOP Jr. (Grades K-3): Lunar New Year - BrainPOP Jr.
Alternative Link: brnpop.co/3qaG8eA (Shared by BrainPOP for the holiday)
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About the Video
Content: The video covers the 15-day celebration, the lunar calendar, red decorations, lion dancers, and traditional foods like dumplings and fish.
Key Topics: It explains the legend of the "Nian" beast, the 12 zodiac animals, and the tradition of giving red envelopes.
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Related Resources
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Quizlet: BrainPOP Lunar New Year Flashcards
Video Quiz: BrainPOP Lunar New Year Quiz
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Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is the most significant holiday in Chinese culture, marking the start of the year on the traditional lunisolar calendar.
2026: Year of the Fire Horse
Date: The next Chinese New Year begins on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Zodiac: 2026 is the Year of the Horse, specifically the Fire Horse, a dynamic combination that occurs every 60 years.
Traits: The Horse represents independence, energy, and freedom. The Fire element intensifies these, symbolizing ambition and transformation.
Core Traditions & Customs
Family Reunion: The highlight is the Reunion Dinner (Nian Ye Fan) on New Year's Eve, where families gather for a massive feast.
Red Decorations: Homes are adorned with red lanterns, paper-cuts, and Spring Couplets (Chunlian) to invite good luck and scare away the mythical beast Nian.
Red Envelopes (Hong Bao): Elders give children and unmarried adults red envelopes filled with money to wish them luck and protection.
Spring Cleaning: Before the holiday, houses are thoroughly cleaned to "sweep away"
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bad luck from the previous year.
Fireworks: Firecrackers are set off to celebrate and deter evil spirits with loud noises.
The 15th Day: The celebration concludes with the Lantern Festival, marked by glowing lanterns and the eating of tangyuan (sweet rice balls).
Symbolic Foods
Dishes are chosen based on their names (homophones) or appearance to represent wishes for the new year:
Fish (Yu): Sounds like "surplus," representing abundance. It is often served whole.
Dumplings (Jiaozi): Shaped like ancient gold ingots, symbolizing wealth.
Longevity Noodles: Served extra long and uncut to represent a long life.
Nian Gao: Sticky rice cakes that sound like "higher year," symbolizing rising career or status.
Mandarin Oranges: Their gold color and round shape represent fullness and wealth.
Major Superstitions (Taboos)
No Cleaning: Sweeping on the first day of the year is believed to "sweep away" new good luck.
No Sharp Objects: Using knives or scissors is avoided as it might "cut" the stream of
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wealth or luck.
No Books: In some regions, buying books is avoided because the word for "book" sounds like "lose".
Would you like to know more about how your specific zodiac sign might fare in the upcoming Year of the Horse? Ask Brain-Pop!!!
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Core Traditions & Origins
The Legend of Nian: Traditions like red decorations and fireworks originate from the myth of Nian, a beast that terrorized villages until it was discovered to fear the color red, bright lights, and loud noises.
Family Reunion: The Reunion Dinner (Nian Ye Fan) on New Year's Eve is the most important meal, bringing families together from afar.
Red Envelopes (Hong Bao): Elders give children red envelopes containing money to pass on good fortune and protection.
Spring Cleaning: Homes are thoroughly cleaned before the holiday to sweep away bad luck, but cleaning is strictly avoided on New Year's Day to prevent "sweeping away" new wealth.
Symbolic Foods
Dishes are chosen for their auspicious names or shapes:
Fish (Yu): Sounds like "surplus," representing abundance.
Dumplings (Jiaozi): Resemble ancient gold ingots, symbolizing wealth.
Longevity Noodles: Served extra-long and uncut to represent a long life.
Nian Gao: Sticky rice cakes that mean "higher year," symbolizing rising success or status.
Tangerines/Oranges: Their gold color and names (sounding like "luck") represent prosperity.
5:49
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Chinese New Year - Wikipedia
For similar observances in other cultures, including a list of culture-specific articles, see Lunar New Year. * Chinese New Year, ...Wikipedia
Everything to Know About the Chinese New Year - Fly By Jing
Everything to Know About the Chinese New Year. The Chinese New Year is a festive celebration at the beginning of the Chinese calen...Fly By Jing
Legend Of Nian -Lunar New Year
Feb 16, 2018 — Legend Of Nian -Lunar New Year - YouTube. ... This content isn't available. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or...YouTube ·Chinu Meenu
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival (Chūn Jié), is the most significant holiday in Chinese culture, marking the start of a new lunar cycle.
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Upcoming: 2026 Year of the Fire Horse
Date: The next celebration begins on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Significance: 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse, a dynamic pairing that occurs only every 60 years. The Horse symbolizes energy, freedom, and strength, while the Fire element adds passion and transformation.
Upcoming: 2026 Year of the Fire Horse
Date: The next celebration begins on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Significance: 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse, a dynamic pairing that
occurs only every 60 years. The Horse symbolizes energy, freedom, and strength, while the Fire element adds passion and transformation.
The 15-Day Celebration
The festival lasts 15 days, concluding with the Lantern Festival (Yuánxiāo Jié), where people hang glowing lanterns and eat tangyuan (sweet rice balls) to symbolize family unity.
Would you like to see a personalized horoscope for your specific zodiac sign for the upcoming Fire Horse year?
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Core Traditions & Origins
The Legend of Nian: Traditions like red decorations and fireworks originate from the myth of Nian, a beast that terrorized villages until it
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was discovered to fear the color red, bright lights, and loud noises.
Family Reunion: The Reunion Dinner (Nian Ye Fan) on New Year's Eve is the most important meal, bringing families together from afar.
Red Envelopes (Hong Bao): Elders give children red envelopes containing money to pass on good fortune and protection.
Spring Cleaning: Homes are thoroughly cleaned before the holiday to sweep away bad luck, but cleaning is strictly avoided on New Year's Day to prevent "sweeping away" new wealth.
Symbolic Foods
Dishes are chosen for their auspicious names or shapes:
Fish (Yu): Sounds like "surplus," representing abundance.
Dumplings (Jiaozi): Resemble ancient gold ingots, symbolizing wealth.
Longevity Noodles: Served extra-long and uncut to represent a long life.
Nian Gao: Sticky rice cakes that mean "higher year," symbolizing rising success or status.
Tangerines/Oranges: Their gold color and names (sounding like "luck") represent prosperity.
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The 15-Day Celebration
The festival lasts 15 days, concluding with the Lantern Festival (Yuánxiāo Jié), where people hang glowing lanterns and eat tangyuan (sweet rice balls) to symbolize family unity.
Would you like to see a personalized horoscope for your specific zodiac sign for the upcoming Fire Horse year?
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Everything to Know About the Chinese New Year - Fly By Jing
Everything to Know About the Chinese New Year. The Chinese New Year is a festive celebration at the beginning of the Chinese calen...23
Fly By Jing
Legend Of Nian -Lunar New Year
Feb 16, 2018 — Legend Of Nian -Lunar New Year - YouTube. ... This content isn't available. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or...YouTube ·Chinu Meenu
Show all
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Playlists & Collections
Official CGTN Chinese New Year Traditions
: A comprehensive 26-video documentary series covering festive customs and stories across China.A Taste of Chinese New Year
: A culinary-focused playlist exploring the iconic flavors of the holiday from north to south.Chinese New Year Educational Playlist
: A mix of songs, language lessons, and cultural explainers. 2026 Year of the Horse Highlights
Beijing Legendary Parade 2026 (4K): Stunning 4K footage of the massive dragon dances and night fireworks in Tiananmen Square.
Global 2026 Spring Festival Spirit: Highlights of how countries worldwide are welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse.
Chinatown Festival 2026: Live footage of the high pole lion dance and community celebrations.
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The lunar calendar is . While the modern world primarily uses the solar Gregorian calendar, the lunar calendar remains vital for determining traditional holidays like Chinese New Year, Ramadan, and Rosh Hashanah.
How the Lunar Calendar Works
The Lunar Month: A single month is based on one synodic cycle (from one new moon to the next), which averages 29.53 days.
Month Lengths: Because you can’t have half a day in a calendar, months typically alternate between 29 and 30 days to stay in sync with the moon.
The Lunar Year: A standard year of 12 lunar months is about 354 days—roughly 11 days shorter than the solar year.
Lunisolar vs. Pure Lunar
Most "lunar" calendars are actually lunisolar, meaning they use a trick called intercalation to keep the seasons from drifting:
Lunisolar (Chinese, Hebrew, Hindu): These calendars add a 13th "leap month" roughly every 2–3 years (7 times in a 19-year Metonic cycle). This is why Chinese New Year is always in winter (Jan 21 – Feb 20).
Pure Lunar (Islamic): The Islamic calendar does not add leap months. As a result, its
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"All About Chinese Culture"
This educational book explores the origins of Chinese New Year, the legend of the Nian monster, and the cultural significance of the lunar calendar and traditional symbols.
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