What does it mean to set off firecrackers on the eighth day of the first month?

The reason why firecrackers are constantly set off on the eighth day of the first lunar month is that many merchants set off firecrackers on the eighth day, hoping to win a "good omen" for the year.

I believe everyone has heard the story of Nian Beast. According to legend, in ancient times, in order to drive away Nian beast, people would light lights, set off firecrackers, and scare away Nian beast with firecrackers, thus ensuring a year's peace.

January of the lunar calendar, also known as the first month (zh ē ngyuè/ㄓㄥㄩㄝ _), is the beginning of the lunar year. Meng Chun, the month of the Yin Dynasty (Tiger Moon), is too complicated in law. In the first month or the middle of the first month, in most cases it only starts in spring (a small part of beginning of spring is in the second half of the twelfth month). The first month is the off-season in the north, and it is also the month to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. In customs, the first day of the first month to the fifteenth day of the first month is usually called the Spring Festival.

In ancient China, the first month was also called Yin Jian, Meng Chun, Yangyue, Taiqun, Taiyue and Wangchun.