Long, long ago (as all fairy tales and legends start), there was a group of people who lived in what was known as the Middle Kingdom. Unlike those who lived around them, these people followed the lunar calendar while other people followed the solar calendar. Thus, the date in which they celebrated New Year would often change from year to year.
One special thing about this group of people was their special love for celebrations. There were special foods cooked for each special holiday.
There were special dances for each holiday. They found many different ways to express the joy of being alive. Yes, indeed, they were a happy people.
ILLUSTRATIONS: COURTESY OF EXPLORER PUBLICATIONS
Unfortunately, there was only one holiday that would ruin their joy. For at the beginning of each New Year, a horrible monster came out of hiding. If this monster only scared people, that would be one thing. But this monster had such a terrible habit. Since it was in hibernation throughout the year, it needed to eat just once a year. The only thing that this monster ever wanted to eat was CHILDREN!
(To be continued tomorrow...)
很久很久以前（所有的童話和傳說都是這樣開始的），有一群生活在中原地區的人，他們不像周遭民族一樣奉行陽曆，而是遵守農曆，因此他們歡慶新年的時間通常年年不同。
這個中原民族與眾不同之處，在於他們超愛慶祝活動。每一個特殊的節日都有特別的食物。
每一個節日也有特殊的舞蹈來慶祝；他們以各種方式表達對生命的熱愛；沒錯！他們是一群快樂的人。
不幸的是，只有一個節日會破壞他們的興致；每年一開始時，一個可怕的怪獸會從躲藏的地方跑出來。如果牠只是出來嚇嚇人也就罷了，可是牠有個恐怖的習慣：因為牠一整年都在冬眠，所以一年只須進食一次，而牠最想吃的就是小孩！(明日待續...)
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