Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Facts About Oriental New Year Fireworks

By John Chan


Here are some facts about the myths which the Chinese believe in regarding Chinese New Year fireworks display during New Year.

Noise pollution is the last thing that the Chinese people worry about during the long festival of New Year. The reason for this is that they burst fireworks in abundance to give a sound welcome to the year to come.

In fact the firecrackers are the final touch to the entire festive season. Without them the Chinese New Year would be incomplete. There is no denying the fact that the Chinese New Year holds enormous traditional importance for the people of China. It is a time when friends and families get together and celebrate in various festive ways.

The New Year is the time when the people of China feel free to bring back some truly old customs and make use of them for the purpose of celebration. The blowing of fireworks is one such exclusive custom which has vast importance as far as Chinese society is concerned. The tradition of fireworks has been in use for centuries in China and it has a great significance in China during the coming of New Year.

The fireworks tradition

As is with most of the traditional practices of the country you will be able to hear a number of tales regarding the significance and origins of the fireworks tradition. A common belief is to make some noise so as to wake up a sleeping dragon. This dragon is believed to bring the rain during summer in order for the crops to grow.

Everything has a direct relation to the country's economy. China being an agricultural country requires sufficient amount of rains. They have combined this need with a festive belief of cracker bursting to make merry during the New Year and create huge noise without the apprehension of noise pollution.

Protection from Evil Spirits

The other story which some people in Chinese society believe in is that by making all that noise will drive the evil spirit away in the beginning of the year. This will lead to good luck and well being and keep the coming year happy and evil free.

Another important activity during the time of Chinese New Year is the traditional parade. The people in the parade have firecrackers which they throw towards the dragon's feet. The idea is that the noise of the cracker will wake the dragon up.

Fireworks and dragon are interconnected as far as the Chinese New Year is concerned. It is a truly amazing spectacle to see a colorful dragon dance which is very attractive to the foreigners. The true spirit of the New Year celebration vibrates around the dragon dance and fire work blowing. The crackers keep going off as the dragon dances at the center of it.

The aim of blowing up all these fire crackers is to keep the evil spirits away. In some cultures firecrackers are believed to drive the good spirits away because of the loud noise but when in China the traditional beliefs say otherwise.




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