The 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month marks Little New Year, a day steeped in legend. Why is the 23rd day called "Little New Year"? Let's explore the tale behind this tradition.
The Legend of Little New Year
Legend has it that long, long ago, there were two immortals in heaven. The elder immortal was called Big New Year, and the younger was called Little New Year. Big New Year had a kind heart and cherished humanity. During the cold season when crops failed to grow, fearing people would starve, he would scatter heavenly white flour for them to eat.Though Xiaonian was Dànián's own brother, his heart was utterly wicked. Using dark magic, he transformed the white flour Dànián scattered into snowflakes. Eating these snowflakes not only failed to satisfy hunger but also froze people's stomachs. Once people fell ill, he would transform into a ferocious beast with huge teeth and fangs to devour them. After filling his belly, he would lie down to sleep, slumbering for three hundred and sixty days straight. Upon waking, he would feast on people once more.Though people knew he emerged only once every 360 days, there was nowhere to hide from him. They could only burn incense and kowtow, begging Dànián to intervene.
Dànián was busy fretting over the flour turning to snow and the dwindling population when he heard the prayers. Only then did he realize Xiǎonián was behind the mischief.Furious, he confronted the Young Year, who scoffed, "You do your thing, I eat my people—what's it to you?" Seeing his stubbornness, the Great Year raised his hand to strike. But the Young Year, driven by malice, countered with such force he knocked the Great Year to the ground, snarling, "If we weren't born of the same mother, I'd devour you too!"
Unable to defeat Xiao Nian, Dànián descended to earth himself and told the people: "Xiao Nian fears thunder and fire. When he comes again, gather oil pine and dry bamboo, build a circle, light it, and sit inside. He won't be able to eat you."The people remembered Danyao's words. When Xiaonian descended, the crackling fire of dry pine and bamboo scorched the air. The blazing flames made him circle restlessly, grinding his teeth in frustration. With no way to devour anyone, he returned empty-bellied. Knowing this was Danyao's scheme, he went to attack Danyao. With no other choice, Danyao leaped into the very fire circle the people had built.Little Year gnashed his teeth in fury: "When I master the fire arts, I'll devour every last one of you!"
Days passed, grass withered and turned yellow. The vicious Little Year, having gone 3,599 days without sleep, finally perfected his fire arts. In one more day, he would descend again to torment humanity.
Dayan, too, had long prepared. He too had gone thirty-five hundred and ninety-nine days without sleep, day and night tempering his strength and honing his skills. In one more day, he too would descend to battle Xiaonian, protecting humanity from harm.
At noon on the thirty-six hundredth day, Dayan and Xiaonian clashed head-on in midair.Xiao Nian knew he couldn't rest easy until Dà Nian was eliminated, so he attacked. Dà Nian showed no weakness, and their clash stirred up yellow winds and thick clouds that obscured the sky. This is why spring brings so many winds and mists.
They fought fiercely for thirty-two days. Growing desperate, Xiao Nian opened his mouth to swallow Dà Nian whole. Dà Nian hastily raised his palm thunderbolt, but Xiao Nian leapt upward to evade it.As Dànián pursued him upward with his thunderbolts, Xiǎonián kept leaping higher. This explains why muffled thunder rolls on the second day of the second lunar month.
After another seventy-four days of pursuit, Dànián realized his thunderbolts could not strike Xiǎonián and gave up the chase. But Xiǎonián, thinking his elder brother had exhausted his thunder, flipped over and plunged downward to seize Dànián. Dànián dodged swiftly, then drew a snow-white serpent from behind him.The serpent spewed fiery breath, charging straight at Xiao Nian. Before Xiao Nian could dodge, Dànián unleashed a thunderous blast. Xiao Nian sidestepped, then opened his mouth to spew a torrent of black water. Though it couldn't extinguish the flames or dampen the thunder, it saved him. Dànián pursued, Xiao Nian fled, shaking the heavens and earth, unleashing a torrential downpour.This is the origin of summer's flashes of lightning, thunderclaps, and torrential downpours.
Exhausted from battle, Xiao Nian plunged into the sea to sleep. Dà Nian hastily summoned the sun to ripen the crops, lest their war starve the people.
The tales of Xiao Nian continue below—let's explore them together.