The origin of the custom of setting off firecrackers on the Spring Festival?

There is another legend about the origin of firecrackers in Chinese New Year. It is said that in ancient times, our ancestors were threatened by one of the most ferocious beasts. This beast is called "Nian", which hunts all kinds of animals for food, and in winter, when there is a lack of food in the mountains, it will also break into the villages and prey on people and livestock, so the people were in a state of fear. After many years of fighting with Nian, people found that Nian was afraid of three things: red color, fire and loud noise. So in winter, people hung red-colored mahogany boards on their doors, burned fires in front of their doors, and stayed up all night banging and clanging. On this night, "Nian" broke into the village, saw the red color and fire in every house, and heard the loud noise, and ran back to the mountains, never daring to come out again. When the night was over, people congratulated each other and celebrated their victory with lanterns, wine and banquets.

In order to commemorate this victory, after this time in winter, every household put red paper couplets on the door, electric lanterns, gongs and drums, firecrackers and fireworks; at night, all-night vigil; the next day, early in the morning to congratulate each other on the good news. This has been passed down from generation to generation, and it has become the "New Year".