According to legend, in ancient times China has called the "year" of the monster head long antennae, ferocious. "Year" for many years hiding the sea, and every New Year"s Eve just climbed, devouring livestock harm human life. Therefore, every New Year"s Eve this day, people young and old village here fled to the mountains to escape the "year" animal damage.
This New Year"s Eve, people young and old peach village are mountain refuge, from outside begging old village, I saw him Shouzhu crutches, arm take the bag, silver to be elegant, head if Long Star. Some villagers sealed windows locked, and some pack up some cows sheep, everywhere people shouting, panic rush scene. At this time, who determined to take care of elderly people begging.
Village head only an old lady gave the old man some food, and urged him to speed up the mountain to escape the "Year" beast, stroking bearded old man laughed: "If her mother let me stay at home one night, I must have "in" beast oust. "old lady scared mesh look, to see him Hefatongyan, hale and hearty, bearing extraordinary. But she continues to persuade, begging people laugh without words. Her mother had no option but to leave home to go to a mountain refuge.
Midnight, "year" beast broke into the village. It found that the village atmosphere, unlike in previous years: first lady Village home, the door paste big red, brightly lit candles inside the house. "Year" beast covered flick, shrieking loudly. "Year" towards her mother at home glared a moment, then head over the pastforward. Almost at the entrance, the hospital suddenly heard "bang flap" sound of bombing, "year" trembling, and then not move forward together. Originally, the "year" fear red flames and exploding. At this time, her mother"s house wide open, wearing only a hospital Dahongpao elderly laughter. "Year" shocked, embarrassed fled the.
The next day was the first day, people sought refuge back safe and sound very surprised to see the village. At this time, the old lady came, and hastened to the villagers described the promise of the elderly begging. Together folks flocking to the old lady at home, I saw the red paper stuck on the mother of the house, the yard is still a pile of unburned bamboo "pops" exploding inside several red candles also issued a corner .... ..
Ecstatic villagers to celebrate the auspicious arrival, wearing a new hat have to change clothes, to congratulate relatives and friends say hello. It quickly spread around the village, people are aware of the expulsion "year" beast approach.
Since New Year"s Eve, families paste red couplets every year, firecrackers; household brightly lit candles and keep more to be old. Started early in the morning, to go pro series Friends congratulate say hello. This custom have spread, it has become China"s most ceremonious traditional folk festival.
相传，中国古时候有一种叫“年”的怪兽，头长触角，凶猛异常。“年”长年深居海底，每到除夕才爬上岸，吞食牲畜伤害人命。因此，每到除夕这天，村村寨寨的人们扶老携幼逃往深山，以躲避“年”兽的伤害。
这年除夕，桃花村的人们正扶老携幼上山避难，从村外来了个乞讨的老人，只见他手拄拐杖，臂搭袋囊，银须飘逸，目若朗星。乡亲们有的封窗锁门，有的收拾行装，有的牵牛赶羊，到处人喊马嘶，一片匆忙恐慌景象。这时，谁还有心关照这位乞讨的老人。
只有村东头一位老婆婆给了老人一些食物，并劝他快上山躲避“年”兽，那老人捋髯笑道：“婆婆若让我在家呆一夜，我一定把‘年’兽撵走。”老婆婆惊目细看，见他鹤发童颜、精神矍铄，气宇不凡。可她仍然继续劝说，乞讨老人笑而不语。婆婆无奈，只好撇下家，上山避难去了。
半夜时分，“年”兽闯进村。它发现村里气氛与往年不同：村东头老婆婆家，门贴大红纸，屋内烛火通明。“年”兽浑身一抖，怪叫了一声。“年”朝婆婆家怒视片刻，随即狂叫着扑过去。将近门口时，院内突然传来“砰砰啪啪”的炸响声，“年”浑身战栗，再不敢往前凑了。原来，“年”最怕红色、火光和炸响。这时，婆婆的家门大开，只见院内一位身披红袍的老人在哈哈大笑。“年”大惊失色，狼狈逃窜了。
第二天是正月初一，避难回来的人们见村里安然无恙十分惊奇。这时，老婆婆才恍然大悟，赶忙向乡亲们述说了乞讨老人的许诺。乡亲们一齐拥向老婆婆家，只见婆婆家门上贴着红纸，院里一堆未燃尽的竹子仍在“啪啪”炸响，屋内几根红蜡烛还发着余光......
欣喜若狂的乡亲们为庆祝吉祥的来临，纷纷换新衣戴新帽，到亲友家道喜问好。这件事很快在周围村里传开了，人们都知道了驱赶“年”兽的办法。
从此每年除夕，家家贴红对联、燃放爆竹；户户烛火通明、守更待岁。初一一大早，还要走亲串友道喜问好。这风俗越传越广，成了中国民间最隆重的传统节日。
