The story of "Nien"

My little princess, Qing Lynn, (3 years and 3 months old) has started attending kindergarten. When the class resumed after Chinese New Year, the kindergarten organised a small party. The teacher asked the class about the origin of the Chinese New Year.

Qing Lynn stepped up and told the class about the story of the nien.

This is what she told the class (in Mandarin):
"My father told me about this. Nien was an extremely cruel beast, which the Chinese believe, eats people on New Year's Eve. To keep Nien away, red-paper couplets are pasted on doors, torches are lit, and firecrackers are set off throughout the night, because Nien is said to fear the color red, the light of fire, and loud noises. Early the next morning, as feelings of triumph and renewal fill the air at successfully keeping Nien away for another year, the most popular greeting heard is kung-hsi, or "congratulations."

She did not reveal to my wife and me about this story-telling event.
I heard it from another parent.

My immediate reaction as a proud father - I have to continue to devote more time for the bed-time story-telling.

Next year, we will form a lion dance team comprises of Qing Lynn and her brother/cousins.
Qing Lynn will be the front dancer. The other team members are HuYi (back dancer), Eason (drummer) and Qing Ray (the clown).