The Story about Fireworks

In China firework is played to express joy and happiness during the Spring Festival and on other auspicious occasions. Fireworks playing is regarded as one of China's most important customs.

The history of firework can be dated back to over 2,000 years ago. The earliest firework was called Ting Liao made up of something like bamboo sticks and would make stuttering sound when burned.

Firework was first played to dispel ghosts and evil spirits and hanker for auspiciousness and happiness. It is said that a four-horned monster called Shan Sao and some other ghosts hiding in mountains came out to harm human beings and their livestock every 365 days. However, they were afraid of sound and light. People therefore played fireworks in order to drive away Shan Sao and evil spirits at the end of one year and the beginning of a year.

After gunpowder was invented in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), people began to make fireworks by cramming gunpowder into bamboo tubes to produce greater sound. In the Song Dynasty (960 - 1271), bamboo tubes was replaced with paper coverings. Later, a new kind of firecracker was invented which was made by linking many smaller firecrackers together with powder train. This new firecracker called Bao Zhu could sound continuously.

Well-made firecrackers are usually packed with red paper. When exploded, scraps of red paper will be scattered all over the floor, which forebodes auspiciousness. During the Spring Festival you can see people playing firecrackers in various kinds and with different colors. As Chinese become more aware of environment protection, playing fireworks has already been prohibited in many cities. Still, people celebrate their holidays in many other ways.

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