Ancient legends tell how citizens lived in fear of a beast called Nien, which today is the Chinese word for "year". Nien was said to be a creature of the sea that would come ashore on the first day of the year (there is also reference to the last day of the passing year) and devoured everything in its path including crops, livestock, and humans, specifically children. Villagers learnt by leaving food outside their homes the beast would not attack them, but eat the food instead.

As so often happens in Chinese mythology there are many versions to the story of the Chinese New Year and Nien the man-eating beast. One legend tells how an old man rescued the village from the beast. Another tells how it fled in fright when confronted by young girl wearing a red dress. Noticing that it was afraid of the colour red at every Chinese New Year villagers would hang red coloured spring scrolls and lanterns from the windows and doors of their homes. As an extra precaution, they made noise by lighting firecrackers and banging drums to frighten the beast away. From that time on, Nien was never seen again. The villagers were finally free of its terror.

The Spring Festival is filled with colourful traditions, handed down from generation to generation. On the 28th day of last month of the old year, the old traditions say that families should clean their homes. The cleaning symbolizes sweeping away evil and misfortune and welcomes good luck for the New Year. It's a time when people buy presents, food is plentiful and homes are colourfully decorated with red paper cut-outs representing the belief that red signifies wealth, happiness, and longevity.

Today, this important occasion is all about being with family and reunion. Most Chinese within China - and many from across the globe - journey home to celebrate the New Year's Eve with their families. For this reason, it can be compared to the Christmas celebration of the West.

Traditionally, families would visit a temple before the first hour of the New Year to pray and light the first incense of the New Year. However, today modern Chinese families celebrate the coming of the Chinese New Year with parties and merrymaking.

New Year's Eve or Chúx? is celebrated with a dinner feast for the whole family. The Chúx? is in itself a celebration of food and eating. It's similar to a traditional Christmas dinner and is one of the highlights of the Spring Festival celebration.

Like most people, the Chinese love good food and the Spring Festival is a perfect occasion to dish up savoury, mouth-watering dishes. You can take your pick from delicious recipes made from pork, duck, poultry, and a variety of sweet delicacies. Dishes made from fish, chicken, and bean curd are usually present because their Chinese names mean abundance, wealth and prosperity.

In some parts of China, especially in the northern region, dumplings or Jiaozi are served after dinner. This Chinese delicacy has significant meaning in the celebration of the New Year. Shaped like a horseshoe the "shui-chiao" is meant to bring riches to those that eat them. The "yaunbao" is a dumpling shaped like an ancient 50 ounce gold ingot and is said to bring wealth and good luck.

In the southern parts of the country, Niangao, or New Year cake, made from glutinous rice flour, is served and given away as gifts to family and friends. In China, Nianga symbolizes increasing prosperity throughout the year.

Before the eve of the New Year is over, firecrackers light up the sky to ward off the evil spirits. The following day children wake up early in the morning to shower their parents with wishes of a happy new year and a long and healthy life. In turn, parents, grandparents, close neighbours and good friends give children money in red paper envelopes called Hong Bao. These envelopes are often decorated with symbols representing wealth and good fortune.

The Chinese New Year is also a great time for reconciliations and leaving behind old grudges from the passing year. It's the time to visit relatives and friends and to wear red. People buy new clothes and shoes and many get a new hairdo to symbolize a new beginning. It signals a new lease on life and starting the New Year with a clean slate.

The festivities of the Spring Festival are not confined to homes. The lively atmosphere and spirit of celebration spills out into the streets where activities are held for many days. In parks, malls and other public places people enjoy the lion dances, temple fairs, dragon lantern dancing and lantern festivals.

The Lantern Festival officially marks the end of the Spring Festival.