Nian

In Chinese mythology, Nian (年獸) is a beast that comes in spring. The Chinese word for year is based on the arrival of this beast. A phrase for Chinese New Year, guo nian (過年) means the passing of the beast. It is believed that it lives under the sea. It came to attack people at the same time of the year. The Chinese tradition of decorating in red, burning fire-crackers, and the lion-dance with loud drums and gongs was to scare the beast away. During Chinese New Year, there are two kinds of lion dances. The northern lion Rui Shi (瑞獅) has long hair and a round head. Their name is translated as lions, but they definitely are not the same as African lions. The southern lions, mainly Cantonese, have a horn at the top of their heads. The Cantonese lions fit the description of a Nian, but they are not the same as the northern lions. Some legends said the Cantonese lion dance is a reenactment of how Hotei tamed the Nian.

External link

\n*A Chinese page about the tradition of the lion dance\n*A Singapore webpage describing differences between the northern and southern lion dance (with pictures)