Firecrackers have become a custom in the Spring and Autumn Period.
Because people often burn firecrackers during the New Year, and firecrackers have the meaning of exorcism, warding off evil spirits, and eliminating disasters, so in later legends, "Nian" gradually evolved into a kind of evil spirit, and every household The sound of firecrackers is to drive away monsters like "Nian".
In the Spring and Autumn Period, lighting firecrackers became a custom. During the reign of Duke Wen of Jin Dynasty, Jie Zitui took his old mother to hide in the mountains. In order to let him out of the mountains, Chong'er chose to burn the mountains. There were bamboos growing on the mountains. When the mountains were burned, the bamboos There was a crackling sound, and later the firecrackers were lit with the added meaning of commemorating Jie Zitui.
The firecrackers with gunpowder we are familiar with, or firecrackers, appeared in the Song Dynasty. Minerals such as mirabilite and sulfur were made into gunpowder according to a certain proportion, and the gunpowder was wrapped in paper or bamboo leaves. , it became a firecracker.
Although the form has changed, the sound is very similar. Lighting firecrackers during the New Year also has the mood to pray for good luck, prosperous life and express the joy of the New Year. Since then, the practice of setting off firecrackers has continued from the Chinese New Year to other occasions, such as weddings and funerals.
In addition to setting off firecrackers, there is also the custom of drinking Tusu wine, which is drunk on the first day of the first lunar month. That's why Wang Anshi wrote in "Yuan Ri": "The sound of firecrackers eliminates the year, and the spring breeze brings warmth to Tusu."
Fireworks - a custom in aristocratic families after the Song Dynasty.
Pyrotechnics are always compared with firecrackers. Tan Jihe said that fireworks appeared as early as the Tang Dynasty. At that time, people had discovered this phenomenon of spark generation, but it was not popularized. During the Song Dynasty, due to the invention of gunpowder and the development of related technologies, fireworks of various shapes and colors were produced. During the Song Dynasty, setting off fireworks was a fashion that was popular among the royal family.
Due to the popularity of the custom of setting off fireworks, many poems about fireworks were left behind. For example, Xin Qiji wrote in "The Green Jade Case: Yuanxi" "The east wind blows thousands of flowers and trees at night, and even blows them down." , stars like rain." Compared with firecrackers, fireworks are quite popular because of their brilliant colors and patterns. Due to the fine and complex production techniques, fireworks were only a special enjoyment for aristocrats and wealthy businessmen.
The book "Old Martial Arts" records the scene of the royal family setting off fireworks in the Southern Song Dynasty: "Since the palace leakage was deep, more than a hundred fireworks were set off. Then the sound of music was everywhere, and the shadows of candles were everywhere. "It's all over again."
That is to say, when the night was quiet, an imperial edict came, and the people who had been holding their breath suddenly became excited and held a grand carnival, setting off fireworks and cooperating with others. The gorgeous scenes of instrumental music, song and dance performances are like the light, music and firework shows of ancient times. Compared with the nightlife of modern people, the ancients are not inferior in any way.