The Chinese New Year is now popularly known as the Spring Festival because it starts from the Begining of Spring (the first of the twenty-four terms in coodination with the changes of Nature). Its origin is too old to be traced. Several explanations are hanging around. All agree, however, that the word Nian, which in modern Chinese solely means “year”, was originally the name of a monster beast that started to prey on people the night before the beginning of a new year (Do not lose track here: we are talking about the new year in terms of the Chinese calendar).

One legend goes that the beast Nian had a very big mouth that would swallow a great many people with one bite. People were very scared. One day, an old man came to their rescue, offering to subdue Nian. To Nian he said, “I hear say that you are very capable, but can you swallow the other beasts of prey on earth instead of people who are by no means of your worthy opponents?” So, swollow it did many of the beasts of prey on earth that also harrassed people and their domestic animals from time to time.

After that, the old man disappeared riding the beast Nian. He turned out to be an immortal god. Now that Nian is gone and other beasts of prey are also scared into forests, people begin to enjoy their peaceful life. Before the old man left, he had told people to put up red paper decorations on their windows and doors at each year's end to scare away Nian in case it sneaked back again, because red is the color the beast feared the most.

From then on, the tradition of observing the conquest of Nian is carried on from generation to generation. The term “Guo Nian”, which may mean “Survive the Nian” becomes today “Celebrate the (New) Year” as the word “guo” in Chinese having both the meaning of “pass-over” and “observe”. The custom of putting up red paper and firing fire-crackers to scare away Nian should it have a chance to run loose is still around. However, people today have long forgotten why they are doing all this, except that they feel the color and the sound add to the excitement of the celebration.

Fireworks weren't just invented all of a sudden; they were gradually produced, with the inventions of other substances,such as gunpowder. Although many nations claim the invention of gunpowder, it was actually invented by the Chinese in the 9th Century.

A Chinese cook happened to mix together three ingredients commonly found in the kitchen - potassium nitrate (salt  substitute), sulfur (flammable solid), and charcoal. The cook noticed that, when ignited, the three ingredients burned viciously with a considerable force. The cook apparently also discovered that if these same ingredients were enclosed and then ignited, the combination exploded rather than burned, producing a loud bang. The chemical gunpowder spread throughout the world. There are many uses of gunpowder, in Europe were mainly used for canons during war. While the Europeans were using gunpowder for war, the Chinese used it for firecrackers and fireworks.

Do's:
Wish everyone you meet a happy New Year by saying "gong xi fa cai", which translates to: "Have a happy and prosperous New Year!" Wear articles of red clothing because red symbolizes luck.

Eat vegetarian food because it's not good to see blood. Buy new trousers because the Chinese word for trousers is "fu" (Chinese homonym for wealth). Children should stay up as late as possible on New Year's Eve for it is believed that the later they stay up, the longer their parents will live.

Visit family (especially those older than yourself) and friends to pass on your wishes on good fortune for the New Year. (plus kids and single people will receive lai-see lucky red packets full of money.

Give two lai see to each child. Because happiness comes in two's, do not just give one. This is your way of passing good luck to the next generation. Business owners also give lai see to employees and associates.

Don'ts:

Don't wear white or black clothing, since they are the traditional colours of mourning.

Don't buy new shoes for the first months of the New Year, because the sound of shoe in Chinese is "hai". "Hai" is similar to the sound of sighing, which Chinese believe is not a good way to start the year.

Don't wash your hair for the first three days of the New Year, because the Chinese word for hair is a homonym for the Chinese word for wealth. Therefore, Chinese believe it isn't a good thing to 'wash away your wealth' right at the start of the New Year.

Floors may not be swept and garbage may not be disposed of on the first day of the New Year for fear of casting riches out the door.

Don't swear or quarrel.

Don't break any dishes, otherwise you may incur more misfortune for the New Year. In the event of breaking a dish, quickly say "Peace for all time", and the bad luck will be warded away.

Don't greet people who are in mourning.

Don't drop your chopsticks.

Don't say the number 'four' (Chinese homonym for death) or mention death.

Don't borrow or lend money.

The Birthday of confucius is celebrated with a dawn ceremony-parts of which date back nearly 3,000 years-at Confucius Temples around the island. The ceremony includes a ritual dance, costumes, music, and other rites. (Due to limited space, the ceremony in Taipei is by invitation only, but dress rehearsal are open to the public.)

The teachings of Confucius are not a religion. Rather, are a guide to appropriate personal behavior and good government, and they stress the virtues of self-discipline and generosity.

Confucius held the radical view that all who possessed the depth and desire to learn, not just the aristocracy, deserved the opportunity of formal education. For this reason, his birthday, Sept. 28, is celebrated as Teacher's Day, and is a national holiday in the ROC.

According to legend, Matsu (pronounced “Mazoo”) was born in 960 A.D.. In a dream, young Matsu saved her brother from drowning after their ship sank, and at age 28 she ascended to heaven. Her miracles continued, and Matsu earned the title Goddess of the Sea and Empress of Heaven.

Matsu, patron saint of fishermen, is one of the most venerated deities in the Chinese pantheon, and her birthday is celebrated with elaborate rites in Taiwan's hundreds of Matsu temples. The largest celebration is at Peikang's Chaotien Temple. Groups from around the island bring image, of their own deities to visit Peikang's main Matsu image, considered the most effective image in Taiwan. Visiting deities are paraded down the main street atop or inside ornate palanquins, heralded by mounds of exploding firecrackers. Various folk performances are held in the temple courtyard, while pilgrims attend a steady succession of rituals inside the temple. The temple's Matsu images make inspection tours of the town, and at night, lighted floats parade the streets. Smaller parades can be seen in most seaside cities.