The Chinese New Year Custom－－－－set off firecrackers

On New Year’s Eve, Chinese people set off firecrackers. Fireworks light the sky. It’s beautiful. Do you know why Chinese people like to set off firecrackers on New Year’s Eve? It’s an old story……

A long time ago there was a monster called Nian(年). It was very ugly and ferocious. The monster would come down from the mountains to hunt people. People were very afraid of it and locked themselves inside their houses before sunset on the days it would come.

There lived an old wise man in a village. He thought it was the panic in people that made the monster so bold and furious. Thus the old man asked people to organize together and to conquer the monster by means of beating drums and gongs, burning bamboo and lighting fireworks in the hope that the noises would frighten the hateful monster.

On a moonless and freezing cold night, the monster Nian appeared again. The moment it opened its mouth, the villagers burst out with their frightening noises and fire. Wherever the monster went, it was faced with the terrible noises.

Since then, people have kept the tradition by beating drums and gongs, and lighting fireworks on the coldest day in winter to drive the imaginary monster away and to celebrate victory over it. They also wear red clothes to scare the monster.

Today, "nian" refers to New Year's Day or the Spring Festival. People often say "guo nian," which means "survive the nian." Red has become the color of joy. The firecracker went off and scared Nian.