the year of the pig // (belated) lunar new year festival

[teef]

[align=center]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[color=#7E354D]BAI SHI
" my own illusion come to be "

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[color=#7E354D]stories ... stories. the creations that had incredible power, enough to trap entire worlds and the imagination in simple words twisted into some beautiful painting that one could enjoy and watch over. it was a mother's nurture that kept some stories alive, most changing with time and what was most necessary in them. but records and mythology barely changed, some stayed relevant while others faded.

today though, bai shi knew that the stories that they shared from their culture would not be as well remembered as the stories of this strange time that they found themselves in. It didn't bug them, no, in fact it gave them comfort to have some last shard of home with them.

"alright. there's two in relation to the lunar new year festival." they grinned with a soft echoing laugh. They watched Jiyu look for a comfortable place to perch and nodded above, "the ceiling works well" they advised her warmly before they settled once they had curled up upon their own nest. This would be the last time that they enjoyed its comfort for quite a while.

Letting out a heavy breath they closed their eyes for a moment, sorting out their memories. "alright. First is the story of Nian, the monster that would emerge from the depths of the sea to feast upon those living on shore at midnight at the end of the lunar new year. The villagers would escape to the far mountains to escape the Monster Nian, a creature as large as a temple with sharp teeth and horns. In this time of preparation to leave and flee the damage that the Monster surely would inflict upon the empty dark village in its rage, nobody noticed an old man that was a beggar's comparison with sharp intelligent eyes. an old woman would approach him and warn him of Nian's terror. He would ask to stay in her home as the villagers left, and she allowed him to do so."

"when Nian clambered ashore, it was met by the usual dark village, except for one house with a light on in the east of the village. Nian was confused by the red papers and burning candles on the house where it became enraged. it went to the front of the house and was met by loud crackling noises. when it went to smash the door open, the door was thrown open by the old man! he wore red and was laughing victoriously as Nian fled from him, from the red paper, burning candles and the burning bamboo. The word 'nian' in Chinese stands for Year. The villagers had survived Nian, the Year, which is where the celebrations of the Lunar New Year came into play. The villagers would celebrate by dressing in fancy clothing and visiting each other and family and feasting to celebrate that Nian was driven off." they concluded.

"next is the story of the Twelve Zodiac animals and the Jade Emperor." they began in a wistful tone, "the twelve year cycle of the Chinese is connected to the Twelve Zodiac Animals, each year represented by an animal. The first year of the cycle is the Year of the Rat, the second the Year of the Ox, third the Year of the Tiger, fourth the Year of the Rabbit, fifth the Year of the Dragon, sixth the Year of the Snake, seventh the Year of the Horse, eighth the Year of the Sheep, ninth the Year of the Monkey, tenth the Year of the Rooster, eleventh the Year of the Dog, and twelfth the Year of the Pig. The Jade Emperor, known as the Emperor in Heaven, challenged all animals to a race to cross a river to claim a spot on the calendar."

"The Rat planned ahead by leaping onto the back of the sturdy Ox who was used to crossing rivers. Before the Ox crossed the finish line, Rat leapt ahead of him and took first, the Ox second. From the river burst Tiger, taking third. Rabbit was stuck in the middle of the river, frightened to move before slipping into the river by accident. Finding a log, Rabbit grasped to it in fear for his own life. Suddenly a burst of wind pushed the log towards shore and up climbed Rabbit into fourth. Fifth came the Dragon, twisting through the skies. The Jade Emperor asked the Dragon why he was late, the Dragon explaining he stopped to help villagers trapped in a blaze and then blew the Rabbit's log to shore so it could be safe."

"Horse splashed through the river in a canter and steps before the finish line, Snake slithered from between her hooves, scaring her out of her mind. Horse lost sixth to Snake from her own fear and took seventh in embarrassment. Sheep, Monkey and Rooster worked together to cross the river on a raft. Monkey and Rooster let Sheep go first because Sheep was kind and soft to them, which gave Sheep eighth place, and Monkey took ninth, then Rooster in tenth. Dog came from the river not long after, apologizing for having played his way through the river for it had been enjoyable enough for a bath and to play in."

"Last came Pig at the end of the race, stumbling through the river and clattering to the finish line. The Jade Emperor asked the Pig why he with such surprising speed came last, and Pig excused himself by explaining that he had needed to eat something up and then proceeded to nap afterwards. Thus Pig took twelfth and the race was finished, and the twelve Zodiac animals were chosen." they murmured, gaze flying to the sky far above, glad to see that the sun had set and the moon had climbed into the sky. They were most pleased to see the NPC children that had come to lay alongside them in their nest, radiating warmth from their scales.

// in short: the story of nian, the monster who is afraid of red and loud noises and lights, and the story of how the zodiac came to be