According to tales and legends, the beginning of the Chinese New Year started with a mythical beast called the Nian. Nian would come on the first day of New Year to eat livestock, crops, and even villagers, especially children. To protect themselves, the villagers would put food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year. 据传说，中国新年的开始，一个神秘的野兽叫年。年会在新 年的第一天吃家畜，农作物，甚至村民，尤其是儿童。为了 保护自己，村民们会把食物放在他们的门前每年年初。据说， 年吃他们准备的食物后，就不会攻击人。