Why do the Chinese celebrate the New Year by letting off fire crackers?
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Answer:
Because New Year Day is World festival day of all contries. So, any countries have rights to celebrate the New Year Day festival
Answer:
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Chinese New Year Firecrackers
CHINESE FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
Chinese New Year Firecrackers
By CindyUpdate Mar.04.2021
It is an important custom to set off firecrackers and fireworks during the Chinese New Year period. Chinese New Year celebrations would not be complete without them.
Why Light Firecrackers on Chinese New Year?
In traditional Chinese culture, firecrackers were originally used to scare away evil spirits.
As the legend goes, a monster called Nian would come out to eat villagers and destroy their houses on each New Year’s Eve. The villagers discovered that burning dry bamboo to produce an explosive sound scared away the monster. Since then, it has become a tradition at Chinese New Year. Click to learn more on Legends of Chinese New Year.
Today, lighting firecrackers and fireworks is a major custom to celebrate the coming of the New Year, and also a way to enhance the festive atmosphere.
So, even though lighting firecrackers produces a loud noise nuisance and piles of red paper shreds, Chinese people not only take it in their stride, but also they generally enjoy firecrackers.
The History of Firecrackers
Baozhu in Chinese, literally meaning "exploding bamboo", was the predecessor of firecrackers.
Chinese New Year Firecrackers
In the Tang Dynasty (618–907), gunpowder was discovered by chance, which led to the invention of firecrackers in China. People found that a loud blast could be produced by inserting gunpowder into the hollow of a bamboo stick and then throwing it into a fire. The first firecrackers were born.
In the Song Dynasty (960–1279), paper tubes came to replace the bamboo stalks.
Wrapped in red, a lucky color for Chinese, firecrackers became increasingly popular to enhance celebrations and religious ceremonies. The red paper is left around (for at least a day) after letting off firecrackers, so as not to "sweep away good luck".
Setting Off Firecrackers During Chinese New Year
It is a countrywide tradition to set off firecrackers during the Chinese New Year period. But the time to set them off differs from region to region. It is popular to set off firecrackers at the following times:
The moment the new year arrives, there is a cacophony of fireworks and firecrackers all around, accompanied by thick smoke, the shaking of buildings, and the noise of hundreds of car alarms. In large cities, fireworks are set off continuously for one to two hours.
Before New Year's Eve dinner: When the reunion dinner is ready, many families light firecrackers to invite ancestors to celebrate the festival together. It is also a way to add a jubilant atmosphere to the festival and it brings great happiness.
At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Day: It is customary to stay up until midnight after the reunion dinner. Firecrackers and fireworks are set off at the stroke of midnight to scare away evil spirits and celebrate the coming of the new year.