Chinese New Year has been celebrated for more than 4000 years. It originated in China and today is celebrated all over the world in areas where there is a large Chinese population. The origins of the holiday can be traced to the story of Nian, a wild beast who attacked a village on New Year's Eve. The monster would hurt people. The villagers discovered that Nian did not like the color red, loud noises, or bright lights. The villages set off firecrackers and painted their doors red to keep the beast away.
Today, Chinese New Year is a way for families and friends to get together to share wishes for luck and prosperity for the coming year. It is the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar. The color red is used to symbolize luck.