Shepherd Boys Fighting with “Beast of Nian” 春节传说之牧童斗“年兽”

相传远古时候，有一种凶恶的怪兽叫做“年”。年住在山洞里，它是山中霸王。老虎、狮子、黑熊一看到它，便吓得逃命；山羊、猴子、野兔听到它的吼叫，便瘫倒在地。年在山上捕食动物，吃饱便呼噜噜地躺在洞里睡大觉。
It’s heard that there was a fierce monster called Nian in ancient times. Nian lived in the cave. It was the king in the mountain. Tigers, lions and black bears ran away when saw it. Goats, monkeys and hares would fall down when heard the growling of Nian. Nian preyed on animals on the mountain and then returned to its cave to sleep.
却说那时候，有两个放牛的孩子，一个叫阿山，个叫阿水，他俩是好伙伴，胆子都很大，常常赶着牛群上山吃草。家里的人对他俩说：“孩子，山上有年，去不得呀！”
At that time, there were two cowboys: Ashan and Ashui. They were good friends and both of them were courageous. They frequently grazed on the mountain pasture. Their family members warned, “Don’t go up into the mountain. There are Nians.”
“不怕！”阿山和阿水有心计，说：“我们背上弓和箭，‘年’要是来了，就爬到树上射死它！”
“No worries.” Ashan and Ashui were fully prepared, “We take bow and arrows. We will climb a tree to shoot it, if Nian is coming.”
话虽这么说，他俩上山几次，幸喜都没有碰到“年”。转眼到了腊月三十日，天色黄昏。阿山和阿水赶着牛群回家。真怪，牛儿惊慌得哞哞叫，挤成一团。这是咋回事呢？
Even so, they were lucky not enough to meet Nian when they went to the mountain for several times. On the 30th day of the 12th lunar month, Ashan and Ashui went home with their cattle at dusk. Strangely, the herd mooed and crowded together. What happened?
“呔，快走！”阿山和阿水挥起牛鞭，啪啪地抽打了几下。忽然听到“嘎哇”地一声怪叫，一只怪物吓得朝村前路上跑去。
“Wow! Run!” Ashan and Ashui whipped the herd. Suddenly, a monster screamed and ran off towards the villages.
阿山道：“阿水，你看，是一只年跑了！”
Ashan said, “Ashui, look, a Nian runs away!”
“真怪，‘年’是凶兽，怎么看到我们反而害怕得逃走了。”阿水觉得挺奇怪。
“It’s strange. Nian is a beast. Why does it run away when seeing us?” Ashui asked curiously.
“嗯，”阿山果断地说，“我们追过去看看。”
“Well, let’s follow it to have a look.” Ashan replied decisively.
两个小牧童真够大胆，他俩不断地挥动牛鞭催牛快走。牛鞭声劈哩啪啦地响，年逃窜得更快了。“哦，是哩！”阿山猛悟过来，“原来年害怕牛鞭声！”
Two shepherd boys were really brave. They continuously whipped the cattle. Nian ran away quickly when heard bullwhip cracking sounds. “Oh, Nian is scared by bullwhip cracking sounds.” Ashan figured it out.
阿山和阿水赶着牛群进村，远远看到年窜到吴公公家门。吴公公家门前晒了一件大红衣裳，年吓得扭转头，朝村后头跑去。
Ashan and Ashui led their cattle and returned their village. From farther away, they saw Nian run to the house of Grandpa Wu. A red cloth was hanging outside the house. Nian saw it and run off to the back of the village.
那边也有一个村子。此时，夜幕降临了，“年”一见家家户户的窗口明亮亮地闪着灯光，刺得它头昏眼花，又扭转头跑了。这时，阿山和阿水已经把牛群赶进棚里，又追过去。他俩故意把鞭子甩得啪啪响，年惊恐地怪叫着，跑上山了。
There was another village on that side. At that time, the night had shut in. Seeing bright light shining through the windows, Nian felt dizzy and turned to run. After herded the cattle to the cowshed, Ashan and Ashui rushed over to follow Nian. They deliberately whipped loud crackling sounds. Nian screamed in fright and ran up the mountain.
阿山和阿水把这一切看得清清楚楚，回到村里，他们对乡亲们说；“原来年怕响、怕红、怕火。咱们知道它的弱点，往后可以抵御它了。”
Ashan and Ashui saw it clearly. Returned to their village, they told villagers, “Nian is afraid of crackling sounds, red color and fire. We know its weakness. We can defend its attack by using its weaknesses.”
乡亲们听了，很快就想出一个好办法。大家在村前燃起篝火，阿山和阿水投入一根根竹子，火堆里发出“劈劈啪啪”的爆裂声。几只年跑下山。看到篝火，听到响声，果然又往回跑了。就这样，一夜过去了，乡亲们平安无事。第二天正月初一，乡亲们拿出红柑、花生米等好吃的东西一道吃，互相祝贺：“恭喜！”
After heard that, villagers got a good idea. They lit bonfires before the village. Ashan and Ashui put bamboos into bonfires, exploding into loud crackling sounds. Several Nians ran down the mountain. They went back after saw bonfires and heard the sound. So, villagers were safe at that night. The next day was the first day of New Year. Villagers congratulated each other and shared peanuts and oranges.
从此，人们便把正月初一叫做“过年”。每当到了这一天，家家户户贴红春联，燃放鞭炮，点红蜡烛，穿红衣服，以“红”为吉利的象征。据说这些风俗都是当年抵御“年”的办法逐渐演化过来的。
Since then, people had called the first day of the first lunar month as Guo Nian. On the New Year, households paste red spring festival scrolls, set off firecrackers, light red candles and wear red cloths. Red is an auspicious emblem. These customs evolve from the ways of fighting against Nian.