It is said that in that distant time tunnel, there is an ancient and mysterious dynasty - the Han Dynasty. At that time, people had a habit called keeping the year. That is to say, on the last night of the year, every household does not sleep, lights candles, eats melon seeds, chatters about homely things, and waits for the arrival of the new year. Strange, you say, isn't it strange? But there's an interesting story behind it!
Legend has it that the origin of this custom is related to a monster called Nian. This "year" looks a bit like the current hippopotamus, but the temper is not as good as the hippopotamus, it has to come out at the end of each year to make a fuss, eat other people's crops, and scare children. It was found to be afraid of red, fire, and loud noises. So, everyone decided to hang red lanterns and set off firecrackers at the end of the year to drive away the "New Year".
However, the question is, when will this "year" come? No one knows! Therefore, everyone had to stay up all night, keep watch, wait, and give it a good look immediately if the "year" comes. This is the origin of the New Year's celebration, and it is also the reason why we now set off firecrackers and paste Spring Festival couplets for the New Year. However, now people keep the New Year, more because the mobile phone is too fun, the Spring Festival Gala is too good-looking, who can take care of that chubby "year"!
Speaking of keeping the New Year, there is an interesting fact. It is said that in ancient times, keeping the New Year was a technical job, not only to deal with the "Nian", but also to deal with the elders of the family. You think, the family sits around and the elders start to tell about the heroic deeds of their youth, and you have to show that you are relishing and not dozing off, this is the time to test your acting skills. If you accidentally show an impatient expression, the next day you are guaranteed to be pulled to help cook the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, it is no joke.
Moreover, there is also a nickname for keeping the year, which is called "boiling the year". The name sounds reminiscent of the modern culture of overtime. That's right, the ancients kept the New Year, which is actually a kind of spiritual overtime. It's just that the content of their overtime work is relatively rich, in addition to preventing the "year", they can also listen to family gossip and enhance family feelings. Unlike now, working overtime is facing the computer, and I can't even lift my head.
Seriously, though, there is a reason why the tradition of keeping the New Year has survived to this day. Do you think, all year round, everyone is busy with work and study, how much time can you really reunite with your family? Isn't the Chinese New Year's Eve celebration an opportunity for everyone to let go of what they are doing and spend time with their families? Although we are no longer afraid of the "New Year", the meaning of keeping the New Year is more profound.
Finally, I want to say that no matter which dynasty celebrates the New Year, it is actually people's attachment to home and expectations for the future. So, ladies and gentlemen, whether you choose to celebrate the New Year tonight or choose beauty sleep, don't forget that we all have to be happy in the new year, right?