Every year during the Chinese new year, every family will buy some red firecrackers to set off. As soon as the crackle sounds, adults and children cover their ears and grin. Setting off firecrackers means saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new, implying a beautiful longing for the new year. However, to talk about the origin of setting off firecrackers, we must mention an interesting legend:
It is said that in ancient times, there was a ferocious monster called Nian. It was in the deep sea all year round, but at the turn of the new and the old, it came out to trample on strong crops and hurt people and animals, and the people cried bitterly. Once it ran to the village to commit crimes and was scared away by the red clothes hanging at the door of a house. At another place, he was frightened by the light.
So people mastered the weakness of Nian's fear of sound, red and fire. At the end of each year, people stick red couplets, set off firecrackers and hang red lights at the door of their homes. They burn firewood and gather fire in the yard, chop vegetables and meat with kitchen knives and make a sound. So everyone should set off firecrackers during the new year.