Is it really a tradition for thousands of years to set off firecrackers in the New Year?

People think that setting off firecrackers can drive away evil spirits, resist the plague, and bless the family's peace and good fortune. Later, this custom has been handed down, and firecrackers are regarded as a festive way of the New Year. Everyone will set off firecrackers in the New Year. At the end of each year, people will stick red couplets at the door, set off firecrackers, hang red lights, burn firewood in the yard, surround the fire, and cut vegetables and meat with a kitchen knife, which is loud and clear. So firecrackers must be set off during the Spring Festival. According to legend, in ancient times, there was a beast called Nian in the mountains, which never came out all the year round, but when the old and the new were replaced, it came out to destroy crops and hurt people and animals, and people complained bitterly. Once it ran to the village and made a scene, and it became red as soon as it entered the door.

The other door was frightened by firewood, so people all know that Nian is afraid of ringing, red and fire, so people stick red couplets at the door every year, set off firecrackers and hang lanterns until the end of the first year. Legend has it that there was a fierce monster called Nian in ancient times, which lived in the deep sea all the year round. But at the turn of the old and the new, it would emerge from chaos, hurting people and animals, and people complained bitterly. Once it ran to the village to do evil and was scared away by the red clothes drying at the door. In another place, I was frightened by the light and ran away.

So people have mastered the weakness of Nian's fear of sound, red and fire. At the end of each year, people will put up red couplets, set off firecrackers, hang red lights and make a scene at home. Therefore, we must set off firecrackers during the Chinese New Year. This custom has a history of more than 2,000 years in China. According to the Chronicle of Jingchu, on the first day of the first month, when the rooster crows for the first time, he will get up and set off firecrackers in his yard to drive away the evil spirits of plague. At that time, there was no gunpowder or paper, so people burned bamboo to make it burst and make a sound to drive away the plague.

This is superstition, of course, but it reflects the good wishes of the ancient working people for peace and stability. Firecrackers in the Tang dynasty are also called "continuous firing", that is, long bamboo poles are lit one by one, giving off continuous explosions. Setting off firecrackers is a traditional custom in China with a history of more than 2,000 years. According to legend, they were used to drive away a monster named Nian. At midnight, when the New Year bell rings, firecrackers resound through the land of China and the sky. At the "three points" moment of "the first year, January and Yuan", some places also set up "prosperous fire" in the yard to show wealth and good luck.