Chinese Gods and Mythology

Nian was a monster that rose from the sea each year. It had long claws, sharp teeth, a big mouth, scales, and more. It could swallow 5 people in one bite! It loved to eat children most. People in China were scared of Nian. Each year, they would hide in a cave. One year, an old man said he could defeat Nian. The people didn't believe him, so they hid in the cave. In the cave, the heard roars made by Nian. The next day, the came out of the cave a found a small package in their town. Nobody knew where the old man was. Inside the package, their were firecrackers, red shirts, red lanterns, and more. The people learned that Nian was afraid of fire, noise, and the color red. Now, chinese people celebrate Chinese New Year to scare off Nian and to have fun.