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Bai Nian Chu Xi
Hello, every one.
Why do we call Chinese New Year Eve “Chu Xi”? Why do we we say “Bai Nia” the first time we meet each other on the new year’s day?
Here’s the story.
Long long ago, there was a monster named Xi. He liked eating human beings. Fortunately, he only came out one night from the ocean every 365 days. But on the day he came out, anyone he met became his dinner.
The Jade Emperor in the heaven heard about this, he decided sending an immortal to help human beings from this disaster. But he didn’t know who could defeat Xi? So in the annual summing-up meeting he asked, “I heard that Monster Xi caused grave harm to human beings. Your Kitchen God, do you know who is the suitable candidate to get rid of Xi?”
The Kitchen God who just came back from the Earth had never thought the Jade Emperor would ask him. He was chewing sweet candy just then.
Every year, before he left the Earth for this annual meeting, human beings would offer candies as sacrifices, hope he could say sweet words in his duty report. The candy was very sticky though, it pasted his teeth together. So the only word he could say at that moment was “Nian”, Chinese word for “sticky”.
The Jade Emperor thought the Kitchen God recommended Immortal Nian to fight with Xi, he said: “Oh, wonderful. Your Kitchen God, go to tell Nian that it’s my order he goes with you.”
The Kitchen God suffered a loss, but was unable to complain about. Where could he find this Nian?
He went to his best friend, the Divine Farmer for help.
“Oh, welcome, ant on hot pan.” The Divine Farmer made fun of him while playing with a block of clay.
“Buddy, I have no place to turn, you must help me. Where can I find this non-exist, big, strong Nian?” worried the Kitchen God.
“Why big?” The Divine Farmer asked and shew the Kitchen God a boy clay figure, “Is it cute?”
The Kitchen God complained: “What on earth do you mean? I’m here for help, but you just keep making fun of me.”
“Hehe, why are you so impatient?” The Divine Farmer blew on the clay figure. It changed into a cute boy, around 8 years old. “He’s my son. You can call him Nian. Now you can head for Xi.”
After got to the earth, Nian went to areas Xi had visited before. He talked with people survived. Soon he summed up that Monster Xi didn’t like red color. He looked as if being scared by bamboo and lould voices. Then he had his plan.
On the last day, early in the morning, Nian told people to post red paper on the gate, collect bamboo for yard, prepare drums and gongs.
Finally, night was falling. Nian let people lighted fire in their yards. All people sit together beside the bonfire, eating, drinking, talking and waiting.
Suddenly, Bang, bang, they heared heavy steps from far away. and the earth shook with this sound.
Xi’s coming. Bang, bang, the sound was closer and closer.
Then, a kid’s voice echoed through the sky: “Throw bamboo into fire.”
Pilipala, cold bamboo made cracking noise in hot fire.
“Knock drums, beat gongs.”
Qilikonglongqiang, the lould noise frightened Xi so much that he ran away as quickly as he could. And never came back again.
Now, let’s go back to questions I asked you before.
First, why we call new year’s eve CHU XI? Because Xi was driven away on that evening.
Second, why we say BAI NIAN on the first day of new year? Because we want to show our appreciation to Nian.
这个故事讲下来用时4-6分钟,但是语法上需要费点力气修改更正。这个是传统文化故事,年龄限制小点,可以试试。正好还你让女儿练习一下语法改错 |
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