Good morning, How are you today?
How many Angpao you get at Chinese New Year?
Well, how about we talk about a story about this Chinese New Year.
Chinese New Year is a traditional festival in China.
Many people curious about why always with red color, why Ang Pao, why dragon, and much more.

How about we talk about Why Chinese New Year is Celebrated?
 Year in Chinese is Nian (年). Nian is a monster in Chinese legend, he has teeth and horns in ancient time. Nian was in the dark sea for a long time, the beast would go onshore by the end of the lunar year and hunt people and animal. 😠Then all people running to the mountain to avoid Nian attack. When turning on another New Year's Eve, the village welcomed a strange old man.
Source: Behance.net
With silver hair but bright piercing eyes, he was a beggar in rags, walking with a stick. He asked about why people fear this creature when all of you many and he is but one. Drown in great panic, the villagers remained skeptical and locked themselves up anyway. Everything was a scene of chaos, and no one cared about the beggar. A granny from the east of the village came to the old man and gave him some food. She repeated the terror of the Nian and persuaded him to flee with others together. However, the old man keeps calm and promise to expel away the beast in reward. 😊

At midnight, the monster comes and broke into the village ultimately, but is sensed the subtle change the atmosphere 😕. Nian approaching to the house slowly, all the doors and windows have red papers and many candles lit inside the house. The beast trembled and squalled, glaring at all strange things. Caught by rage and irritation, it swooped to the front door. At that very moment, loud cracking sound burst in the courtyard, daunting Nian not to dare come closer. The front door was opened in a flash, and the old man came out in a red gown, roaring with laughter. The Monster Nian was gravely frightened, fleeing through the dark night.

Next day, villagers returned back and surprised at the damage scene of the village. Old granny relief that Nian does not damage all house. She tells other villagers about the beggar. Desiring to check out the truth, all the people flocked to the old granny’s house and they found the red papers on doors and windows, candles in the house and the unburnt bamboo in the courtyard. Villagers were enlightened by the truth that the bamboo burning cracking, red color, and bright light were magic keys to scare away the monster.

Why Red Envelopes called Angpao are given? 😍
Source: SoftIcons.com
A red envelope is also called Yasui Qian (压岁钱). They are called hongbao in Mandarin and lai see in Cantonese. The married or the elderly give red envelopes to children or unmarried juniors. Another story says that this one to avoid a demon named Sui that came out to terrify children while they were asleep. Chinese people love this color and regard red as the symbol of energy, happiness, and good luck. Sending red envelopes is a way to send good wishes and luck. They hope who receive a red envelope are wished another safe and peaceful year.

Why spring couplets are pasted? 😇
Legend has it that there was a huge peach tree stretching on a mountain in the ghost world. To the northeast of the tree, two guards named Shentu and Yulei guarded the entrance to the ghost world. They would catch the ghosts who harmed people and then sent them to tigers as food. Therefore, all ghosts were afraid of the two guards. It was believed that to hang a piece of peach wood with an inscription of the two guards’ names on doors could scare evil things away. Later, the peach wood was replaced by red paper, which symbolizes good luck and happiness.

That a story about Chinese New Year that I know,
My grandma say it to me about this story and very interesting story (of course I should try to research about my grandma story too. Right or not) 😄
China, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Singapore and many Asian countries celebrate the Lunar New Year as national holidays. Chinese New Year is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, and the Philippines.

Happy Chinese New Year, even if late! 😘😍
"Xin Nian Kuai Le, Shen Ti Jian Kang" - Happy new year and keep healthy! 😍😎