In ancient times, the storytellers say, there was no season more cruel than Winter. In those places where Winter truly claimed the land as his own, there was none but Spring, that could drive him away and release field and farmer, child and creature from Winter's icy tyranny. Then the farmer could again put forth his hand to till, and the earth could put forth her life-sustaining fruits. But only for those who survived the passing of the year! And so grew the legend of the monster Nian.
The hardness of the long, hungry winter transformed the year—in Chinese, nian-into a monster who would suddenly appear, once each year. Just before the arrival of spring. From village to village Nian would prowl, devouring the weak and the helpless, eating his fill of men, women, and children clinging to a last, desperate hope of welcoming the spring.
Almost by chance, the people discovered that Nian, too, had his weaknesses. His weaknesses were his fears, and they were three in number, loud noises, bright lights, and the color red. The people began to prepare for the passing of Nian by lighting huge bonfires and setting off fireworks: noise to shatter the silence of Nian's prowl and light to pierce his cover of darkness. Red banners decorated the doors of every home to protect those within from the entry of this deadly beast. (Perhaps you can think of other times and other places where doors were painted red to keep Death away.) For the “passing of the year” also meant “the passing of Nian,” and friends and family greeted one another with a jubilant “Congratulations! You have lived to see in the new year!”, and, well, I don't need to go on and on, now you know why the first day of spring, that is, of the new year, is such a joyful one.
I mean to say, this should be a joyful day, but for many people it still is not. Those of you who are now sitting on laps will not understand what I am about to say, but I am sure that the owner of the lap you're sitting on will tell you I am speaking the truth. You see, there are many who still live in fear of Nian-though they may not know him by that name. Perhaps they simply call him “Time”, perhaps, they know him by a still more frightening name. They fear that he has crept up upon them unawares and is stealing their lives away, swallowing them up in his swift passage. It is for people still haunted by the ancient monster that this new story is told.
Are you ready, then, to hear the story? In some ways, it is a most ancient tale, but in other ways it is completely new. Is it real, or is it just the dream of some lover of myths? Having heard my tale to the end, you may decide for yourself and tell me what you think.
Long, long ago, there lived a most horrible monster, I dare not try to describe him for you, for to look into his eyes was to see Death itself. His name, you already know: yes, Nian. All year long this beast slept. Where? None knew. One day a year, the very last, Nian woke from his sleep and prowled the earth. When he awoke, he was hungry. And when he was hungry, he was nasty.
One year, no sooner had Nian awoke from his long sleep, than he set off in search of his first meal of the year. His monstrous appetite led him to a small village. His sudden appearance terrified the poor people. In fear and horror unimaginable, they cried out, “A monster! A monster! If it's not death, then it's his twin brother!” Those who could still master their wits did what little they could to repel the beast. Some ran to light towering bonfires. Others unfurled banners of bright red in the doorways of the youngest and feeblest. Still others shattered the night's silence by burning bamboo poles that had been packed with black powder.
And what’s next? We will continue next time. | .. | 字汇
1. tyranny 暴君
2. prowl 觅食，徘徊
3. devour 吞吃
4. repel 击退，反驳
讲故事的人说，在古时候，没有比寒冬更残酷的季节了。有些地方寒冬在大地肆虐，只有春天可以把它赶走，让大地，农夫，小孩和动物从寒冬的暴虐下重获自由。然后农夫可以再次耕种，大地可以再次滋生蔬果。但这一切，只给逃过「年」的一劫而存留下来的人。这就产生了年兽的传奇。
在中国，漫长、饥饿、严酷的冬天转变为「年」这个怪兽。它会在每一年春天来临前突然出现。从一个村庄到一个村庄，年兽游行觅食，吞吃弱小无助的人，把殷殷切望春天来临的男女老少都吃掉。
很偶然地，人发现年兽也有弱点。它的弱点就是害怕，依序有三样害怕的事物：响声，亮光和红颜色。人开始为度过年兽之灾准备， 在户外点起高高的火堆，放射烟火：用大响声破坏年兽静悄悄的觅食，用亮光穿透它躲藏的黑暗。家家户户用红色装饰门楣，保护内中的人不受这死亡之兽的入侵。（也许你会想到别的地方别的时候，门楣漆上红色，驱走死亡的事。）因为过年的意思就是逃过年兽，亲朋好友见面互相恭喜，恭喜你活着进入新的一年。我不必继续说下去，你可以了解为什么新春的第一天，是这么喜气洋洋的一天。
我的意思是，这应该是喜气洋洋的一天，但对很多人而言不是如此。你们坐在别人膝头上的，可能不明白我下面所要讲的，但你们所坐的人会告诉你们，我讲的是真的。你们知道，有很多人还活在惧怕年兽的恐惧中—虽然也许他们不知道年兽的名字。也许他们只是称之为「时间」；也许他们以一个更恐怖的名字来叫它。他们怕在不察觉时它悄悄来偷走他们的生命，在它迅速的经过时，就吞吃了他们。这个新故事，就是为着还在古老年兽恐惧中的人而讲的。
那么，你准备听故事了吗？一方面这是个古老的故事，一方面这也是个全新的故事。这是真的故事，还是喜爱神话者的一个梦？等听完，你就可以自己决定，并且把你的想法告诉我。
很久很久以前，住着一头可怕的怪兽。我不敢向你形容它的样子，因为光看它的眼睛就像是看到死亡。它的名字你已经知道：是的，年。这怪兽整年都在睡觉。在哪里呢？没人知道。一年当中有一天，就是最后一天，年从睡眠中醒来，在地上游行。年醒的时候，它就觉得饿。而当它饿的时候，它就狂暴难缠。
有一年，当年兽从长长的睡眠中一醒来，准备寻找这一年的第一顿大餐。巨大的食欲引它到一个小村庄。它的突然出现，吓坏了可怜的村民。他们在无法想像的惊恐中呼叫，「一头怪兽！一头怪兽！它要不就是死，要不就是死的双胞胎！」那些还保持理智的人，想尽办法击退怪兽，却无能为力。有人跑去点燃火堆。有人在最幼小体弱的人门前，将卷起的红色装饰打开。更有人燃烧塞有黑火药的竹竿，破坏夜晚的寂静。
然后怎么了呢？ 我们下期继续。
思考与应用
1. 对于过年，孩子和大人会有什么不同感觉？
2. 你怕时间把生命吞吃吗？该如何克服？ |
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