Also known as firecrackers, firecrackers, etc., the origin has a history of more than 2000 years. In the beginning, firecrackers were mainly used to drive away demons and evil spirits, but in modern times, Chinese people almost always set off firecrackers during traditional festivals, weddings, celebrations, temple activities and other occasions, especially during the Chinese New Year, when the use of firecrackers exceeds half of the yearly dosage.
History of the name
Firecrackers say that the various historical periods are different, from "firecrackers", "popping rod", "cannonballs" to "firecrackers". "firecrackers", in the hometown of firecrackers and fireworks in Liuyang, Changsha, Hunan Province, people will still be a large volume, gunpowder and strong explosive force of a single firecracker called "firecrackers".
The origin of firecrackers
It is said that firecrackers originated from firecrackers. Since ancient times, there is a saying that: a long time ago, the night of the lunar New Year's Eve every year, there will be a beast called "New Year", in order to scare off this beast, people so in front of their homes to burn bamboo, due to the expansion of the air inside the bamboo cavity by heat, the bamboo cavity burst, which issued a loud noise, to drive away the beast of the New Year. With the invention of gunpowder, gunpowder firecrackers replaced the past bamboo firecrackers.
The present situation
Around the end of the 20th century, China had an order to ban fireworks in the city, but not fully implemented, in recent years the adoption of conditional permission to fireworks. In the Southeast Asian Chinese region, there are some countries (such as Malaysia) expressly prohibit fireworks, but the same is only a form. Firecrackers are still a common feature of Chinese New Year celebrations.
The origin of firecrackers is explained
Whether it is a New Year's festival, or a wedding, a marriage, a promotion, or even the completion of a building, the opening of a store, etc., as long as in order to express the joy of celebrations, people are accustomed to setting off firecrackers to celebrate.
This custom has a history of more than 2000 years in China. The Jing Chu chronicle once recorded that on the first day of the first month of the year, when the rooster crows the first time, everyone has to get up and set off firecrackers in their own yards to drive away the plague gods and evil spirits.
Then there is no gunpowder, no paper, people will use fire to burn bamboo, so that the bursting sound, in order to expel the plague God, which is of course superstition, but reflects the ancient working people longing for peace and prosperity of the good wishes.
The Tang Dynasty, firecrackers are also known as "popping rod", probably a longer bamboo pole burning section by section, continuous sound of blasting. Nanchang poet to swan's "early spring" verse: "the new calendar will only half paper open, small pavilion is still gathered popping pole ash. Write is the scene of the Spring Festival burning bamboo poles.
Later, the alchemist after continuous chemical testing, found that saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal together can cause combustion and explosion, so the invention of gunpowder. Some people put gunpowder in a bamboo tube to ignite, the sound is much louder, making the fire burning bamboo this ancient custom has undergone a fundamental change. In the Northern Song Dynasty, the folk have appeared with a roll of paper wrapped in gunpowder ignition, and the difference between the Dan ring and double ring, renamed "firecrackers", and later changed to "firecrackers".
The origin of firecrackers
According to legend, in ancient China, there is a monster called "year", head long tentacles, fierce and unusual." It lived at the bottom of the sea for many years, and only climbed ashore on New Year's Eve to devour livestock and hurt people. Therefore, every New Year's Eve, the people of villages and hamlets, old and young, fled to the mountains to avoid the harm of the "year" beast. New Year's Eve this year, the people of Peach Blossom Village is helping the old and young to take refuge in the mountains, from outside the village came to a begging old man, see his hand on crutches, arm with a bag, silver beard flowing, as if the star of the eye. Folks have sealed the windows and locked the door, some packing, some cattle and sheep, everywhere people shouting and horse neighing, a scene of panic in a hurry. At this time, who has the heart to care for the old man begging. Only the east end of the village, an old woman gave the old man some food, and advised him to quickly go to the mountains to avoid the "New Year" beast, the old man stroked his beard and laughed: "Granny, if you let me stay at home for a night, I must be "New Year" beasts away. The old woman looked closely, see his hair, hale and hearty, extraordinary. But she still continue to persuade, begging the old man smiled but did not say. The old woman had no choice but to leave her home behind and take refuge in the mountains. In the middle of the night, the "New Year" beast broke into the village. It found that the atmosphere in the village is different from previous years: the old woman's house at the east end of the village, the door is plastered with red paper, and the house is lit up by candles. The beast shivered and gave a strange cry. Nian" stared angrily at the old lady's house for a moment, and then pounced on her with a wild cry. Near the door, the courtyard suddenly came "bang bang pop" sound of explosions, "year" trembling, no longer dare to come forward. It turned out that Nian was afraid of the color red, fire and explosions. At this time, the door of the mother-in-law's house was wide open, only to see an old man wearing a red robe in the courtyard laughing. Nian" was terrified and fled in a panic. The next day was the first day of the first lunar month, and the people who had taken refuge in the village were very surprised to see that the village was safe and sound. It was then that the old woman came to her senses and hurriedly told the townspeople about the old man's promise. Villagers flocked to the old lady's home, only to see the old lady's home with red paper on the door, a pile of unburned bamboo in the yard is still in the "snapping" explosion, a few red wax candles inside the house is still glowing with the afterglow of ...... ecstatic townspeople for the celebration of the arrival of good luck, have to change into a new coat and wear a new hat to friends and relatives to say goodbye and good luck. This incident soon spread in the surrounding villages, people know the way to drive away the "New Year" beast. Since then every year on New Year's Eve, every family stick red couplets, firecrackers; household candles brightly lit, to keep the night. Early in the morning on the first day, but also to go to friends and relatives to say hello. This custom is more and more widely spread, and has become the most solemn traditional Chinese folk festival.