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. On the morning of New Year's Day: People will set off firecrackers once they open the door in the early morning of New Year's Day. The earlier, the better. Setting off fireworks is to bring good luck and fortune into the family, it is called 开财门 kāi cái mén (open the door of fortune). Firecrackers and fireworks are set off to bring luck and prosperity in the coming year. Furthermore, they are used to ward off evil spirits from entering homes. In this article, I will be sharing all about Chinese New Year firecrackers & fireworks for celebrating the lunar year of China. From one week preceding the festival to the 15th day after, many Chinese New Year customs are widely observed for thousands of years. The family reunion dinner, eating dumplings, and setting off firework are the must-dos that you might know. Among all traditional festivals and holidays, firecracker use is the most massive during the Chinese New Year. People will set off them on Chinese New Year’s Eve, First New Year Day and the Lantern Festival. Firecrackers remain an enduring symbol of Chinese New Year, embodying cultural beliefs and traditions that have been passed down through generations. They represent not only the hope for a prosperous year ahead but also the joy of community and celebration. To prevent the "Nian" from causing harm, people would set off firecrackers on New Year's Eve, using the loud noise and bright lights to scare away the "Nian." This legend reflects people's desire for peace and safety and shows how the ancients explained natural and social phenomena. People believe that setting firecrackers off on Chinese New Year’s Eve brings happiness, prosperity, and good luck to them in the coming year. They also ignite firecrackers to say goodbye to the ending year and welcome the New Year. Symbolism: Fireworks and firecrackers are believed to ward off evil spirits and bring in the New Year with a loud and bright celebration. They symbolize joy, excitement, and the expulsion of negativity. During Chinese New Year or CNY, it is a tradition to set off firecrackers. In traditional Chinese culture, firecrackers were originally used to scare away evil spirits. As the legend goes, a monster named Nian would come out to eat villagers and destroy their houses on each New Year’s Eve. Join the spectators on both sides of Victoria Harbour on the second day of Chinese New Year to witness an astounding fireworks display as Hong Kong ushers in the Year of the Snake! Don’t miss the chance to kick-start the new year with this awe-inspiring spectacle. Coordinator: Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau Thousands of Fireworks Firecrackers with Lion Dancing kicking off the Lunar New Year 2017 at ChinaTown in DownTown LA. This is the Year of the Fire Rooster. Jan. 22–28, 2025: New Year Shopping. Before Chinese New Year's Eve, people buy New Year's food and snacks, New Year's decorations, and New Year's clothes, fireworks, etc. Chinese New Year in China, like Christmas, is a boom time for shopping. The 2025 Chinese New Year Fireworks Display will light up the sky over Victoria Harbour on Thursday (January 30), the second day of the Chinese New Year, at 8pm to celebrate the festival with members of the public and visitors in Hong Kong. 2 villages visiting each other during the Chinese New Year celebrations. Firecrackers are lited all the time. Illegal in normal days, today the police looked It also tells us that setting off firecrackers during the Chinese New Year has been a custom since then. Do you know why people set off firecrackers during the Chinese New Year? The Origin of Firecrackers in Chinese New Year. In ancient Chinese legends, there was a kind of beast called Nian in Chinese, who lived in the deep sea all the year.
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