A legend goes like this: about 1,000 years ago, a monster called Nian having a tiger body and a pair of wings, went around several villages to catch humans and eat them. Villagers could not figure out how to protect themselves so they consulted a sage to find a way out. The sage had observed the monster for some time and found that it would appear on the New Year's Eve. He, thus suggested the villagers gather together and chase the monster away. When the monster arrived at the village, it was driven away by the shouting and the sounds of drumbeat and firecrackers and never returned. After that, the villagers marked the next day as the beginning of the year which later was named after the monster "Nian" which means year.