The word "Nian" was originally the name of a monster that started to prey on people the night before the beginning of the lunar New Year. It was discovered that Nian had a fear of loud noises and the color red. Hence, everyone pasted red couplets and images of the Door Gods on walls and doors, hung red lanterns and set off fire crackers to scare the monster away. That night, no one went to bed in case Nian attacked. From then on, the tradition of observing the conquest of Nian is carried on from generation to generation.