Why do we set off firecrackers during the Spring Festival? What is the origin of setting off firecrackers during the Spring Festival?
Introduction: "One year goes away with the sound of firecrackers." The Spring Festival is welcomed and seen off with the lively sound of firecrackers. So, why do we set off firecrackers during the Spring Festival? When did the custom of setting off firecrackers during the Spring Festival begin? Now, let’s follow the editor to take a look. In addition to the grand and festive celebrations of the Spring Festival, we also need to pay attention to some taboos regarding the Spring Festival. Next, let’s take a closer look at the Spring Festival special topic compiled by Mr. Shui Mo!The legend of setting off firecrackers during the Spring Festival(1) Driving away the beast “Nian” According to legend, many, many years ago, there was a very ferocious beast in the forest called “Nian”. Every year on the New Year's Eve of the twelfth lunar month, it comes out roaring and eats people and livestock. No one could subdue it at that time. In order to avoid the disaster of "Nian", people would kill pigs and sheep on New Year's Eve to offer sacrifices to Nian, so that its stomach would be full and it would not harm humans and animals.One year on the New Year's Eve, people forgot to kill pigs and sheep to worship "Nian". When "Nian" came, it roared and wanted to eat people. People had no choice but to close the door and climb up to the bamboo house to hide. "Nian" goes from one house to another, looking for something to eat. Seeing that there was nothing everywhere, it howled madly in anger. At this time, a fire broke out in a neighboring bamboo house. The fire was so big that the bamboos made crackling sounds. When "Nian" heard the sudden noise, it was so scared that it ran back to the forest. The people hiding upstairs discovered the secret. From then on, on the New Year’s Eve of every twelfth lunar month, they would cut a lot of bamboos to burn. The bamboos would crackle and the Nian would be scared away. At the same time, people also found that the color of "Nian" was bright red, so they dyed the peach wood boards red and hung them on both sides of the door. This was the talisman. Later, firecrackers and paper were invented. Firecrackers replaced firecrackers, and red couplets replaced talismans. (2) Expelling the “mandrills” Commonly known as "New Year's Day". People get up early to set off firecrackers. It is said that this is to drive away "mandrills". It is said that the mandrill was a vicious one-horned monster that lived in the mountains in ancient times. However, it was most afraid of noise, so people used the explosion of burning bamboo to scare it away. After the invention of gunpowder, people loaded gunpowder into bamboo tubes to make firecrackers, and later used paper tubes, also known as firecrackers or cannonballs. The history of setting off firecrackers during the Spring FestivalWang Laihua, a professor at the Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences, said that firecrackers, like peach charms and spring couplets, were originally used to drive away evil spirits and monsters. By the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it had become a custom for people to set off firecrackers during the New Year. This custom is recorded in "Jingchu Sui Shi Ji": "The first day of the first lunar month is the day of the Three Yuans. It is also called the Duanyue. People get up at the crowing of cocks, set off firecrackers and burn grass in the courtyard to ward off evil spirits." This is also the origin of people setting off firecrackers during the Spring Festival. From this we can see that the original meaning of the word "firecrackers" is the explosion of burning bamboo.After the invention of gunpowder, people no longer burned bamboo. Instead, they filled bamboo tubes with saltpeter, sulfur, charcoal, etc. and burned them to create "firecrackers." However, people still use the term "firecrackers" until today. In the Song Dynasty, people replaced bamboo tubes with paper tubes, filled them with gunpowder and hid the fuse inside to make new firecrackers. To this day, we still use this method, but with some improvements in craftsmanship and innovations in patterns. In the Song Dynasty, some people used hemp stems to weave paper firecrackers into strings, which they called "woven cannons." Because the sound of strings of firecrackers lasts a long time and is as crisp as the sound of someone cracking a whip, they are called "firecrackers". During the Ming and Qing dynasties, there were more types of firecrackers, and the time for setting off firecrackers was no longer limited to the early morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year. It began on New Year's Eve and reached a climax at midnight, commonly known as "welcoming the gods." At that time, everyone would set off firecrackers regardless of their status. Li Jiarui's "A Collection of Beiping Customs" quoted "Hu Tianlu" and said: "The capital is densely populated, the most densely populated in the world. Rich families buy thousands of firecrackers and burn them all. Even if poor families have difficulty making a living and want to pay their prime minister, they must set off a few firecrackers and burn a stick of incense to get rid of the trivialities of the previous year and predict the prosperity of the coming year. This custom has been passed down from generation to generation." In the Qing Dynasty, Xie Wenqiao's "New Year's Lyrics of the Church" said: "The sound of firecrackers is heard all night long, and fireworks have always flourished in the capital. Precious torches and silver flowers are blaring in the middle of the night, and singing and music are playing in the six streets." This reflects the scene of setting off firecrackers in Beijing at that time. In recent years, as an important activity during the Spring Festival, many places have gradually changed the regulations prohibiting the use of firecrackers in cities during the Spring Festival, giving citizens the opportunity to set off fireworks and firecrackers to celebrate the Spring Festival. The Spring Festival in the city is extremely lively because of firecrackers. When the New Year's bell rings at midnight on New Year's Eve, the whole country becomes excited, fireworks fly, firecrackers blast, and the usually reserved Chinese people integrate themselves into the world of carnival. The Chinese people spend a prosperous Chinese New Year amidst the brilliant fireworks in the sky and the red confetti on the ground. Summary: Through the above article, we know the legend and history of setting off firecrackers during the Spring Festival. I hope you will like these contents and broaden your horizons. However, you must also pay attention to safety when setting off firecrackers. I also wish everyone good luck in the Year of the Rooster! |
Recommend
Can’t I go back to my parents’ home during the Lantern Festival in the first year of marriage? What does it mean to hide from the lanterns during the Lantern Festival?
Introduction: The Lantern Festival is one of the t...
Is it appropriate to break ground and repair graves on the 29th day of the first lunar month in 2020? February 22nd is the lucky position of the God of Wealth!
Introduction: You need to choose an auspicious day...
Is the fifth day of the ninth lunar month in 2021 an auspicious day? Is it suitable for caesarean section?
The ninth month of the lunar calendar is also know...
Is Laba Festival 2020 an auspicious day for funerals? What is the meaning of the word "La" in Laba Festival?
Introduction: It is necessary to choose an auspici...
The orientation of the bedroom is important. Different bedrooms have different orientations!
Introduction: Although the bedroom is where we re...
Is the fate of a boy born on November 26, 2018 good?
Is the fate of a boy born on November 26, 2018 in ...
What are the auspicious days for moving house in February of the lunar calendar in 2019?
Moving is a very important thing in Chinese folk c...
What is the zodiac sign of people born on April 27, 2017 in the lunar calendar?
Introduction: Constellations are a kind of wisdom....
What is the lunar calendar date for the Great Heat in 2018? Is it suitable for burying the deceased?
Introduction: Burial is a solemn matter, so an aus...
What not to do on Mother's Day, May 10, 2020, famous quotes about Mother's Day
Introduction: Every day has its own do's and d...
When is the Waking of Insects in 2019? Is it a good idea to get married on the Jingzhe solar term in 2019?
Is it a good idea to get married on the Jingzhe so...
Is Lidong the beginning of winter? What should we pay attention to during confinement in Lidong?
Introduction: Beginning of Winter is one of the 24...
What month is the seventh month in the lunar calendar? Is the Ghost Festival in this month?
The lunar months are some of the more common month...
Why can’t you move house in the twelfth month of the lunar calendar? Things to pay attention to when moving house!
There are auspicious and inauspicious days, and th...
Is the third day of the first lunar month in 2018 an auspicious day to start renovations?
As people's material lives become better, they...