【往期回顾】
世界各国的新年传统9：除了饺子，还有什么是中国人新年必吃的？
【本期内容】
Chinese New Year Firecrackers: Why Set Off and Meaning
中国新年鞭炮：为什么燃放？有什么寓意？
Written by Cindy
Translated and edited by Spark Liao
It is an important custom to set off firecrackers and fireworks during the Chinese New Year period. Chinese New Year celebrations would not be complete without them.
在中国春节期间燃放鞭炮和烟花是一个重要的习俗。如果没有这个习俗，中国的新年庆祝活动就不算完美。
1. Why Light Firecrackers on Chinese New Year?
中国新年里为什么要燃放鞭炮？
In traditional Chinese culture, firecrackers were originally used to scare away evil spirits. As the legend goes, a monster called Nian would come out to eat villagers and destroy their houses on each New Year's Eve. The villagers later discovered that burning dry bamboo to produce an explosive sound scared away the monster. Since then, it has become a tradition for Chinese New Year.
在中国传统文化中，鞭炮最初是用来吓跑恶灵的。传说中，每年除夕夜，一个叫“年”的怪物会出来吃掉村民，摧毁他们的房子。村民们后来发现，燃烧干燥的竹子产生的爆炸声吓跑了怪物。从那时起，这就成了中国新年的传统。
Today, lighting firecrackers and fireworks is a major custom to celebrate the coming of the New Year, and also a way to enhance the festive atmosphere. So, even though lighting firecrackers produces a loud noise nuisance and piles of red paper shreds, Chinese people not only take it in their stride, but also they generally enjoy firecrackers.
如今，燃放鞭炮和烟花是庆祝新年到来的主要习俗，也是增强节日气氛的一种方式。因此，尽管燃放鞭炮会产生巨大的噪音和成堆的红色纸屑，但中国人对此不仅泰然处之，而且大多都喜欢燃放鞭炮。
2. The History of Firecrackers
鞭炮的历史渊源
Baozhu in Chinese, literally meaning "exploding bamboo", was the predecessor of firecrackers.
“爆竹”在汉语里，字面意思是“爆裂的竹子”，就是鞭炮的前身。
In the Tang Dynasty (618–907), gunpowder was discovered by chance, which led to the invention of firecrackers in China. People found that a loud blast could be produced by inserting gunpowder into the hollow of a bamboo stick and then throwing it into a fire. The first firecrackers were born. In the Song Dynasty (960–1279), paper tubes came to replace the bamboo stalks.
在唐朝（618-907）时期，火药被偶然发现，这导致了中国鞭炮的发明。人们发现，将火药插入竹签的中空部分，然后将其扔进火中，可以产生巨大的爆炸声。最早的鞭炮由此诞生了。到了宋朝（960–1279），纸管取代了竹竿。
Wrapped in red, a lucky color for Chinese, firecrackers became increasingly popular to enhance celebrations and religious ceremonies. The red paper is left around (for at least a day) after letting off firecrackers, so as not to "sweep away good luck".
鞭炮被中国人钟爱的幸运色红色所包裹，并且越来越受欢迎，以增强庆祝活动和宗教仪式的氛围。放完鞭炮后，红色的纸会留在原地（至少一天），以免“扫走好运”。
3. Setting Off Firecrackers During Chinese New Year
在新年里燃放鞭炮
It is a countrywide tradition to set off firecrackers during the Chinese New Year period. But the time to set them off differs from region to region. It is popular to set off firecrackers at the following times:
春节期间燃放鞭炮是全国的传统，但不同地区燃放的时间不同，以下是比较普遍的燃放时间：
The moment the new year arrives, there is a cacophony of fireworks and firecrackers all around, accompanied by thick smoke, the shaking of buildings, and the noise of hundreds of car alarms. In large cities, fireworks are set off continuously for one to two hours.
新年到来的那一刻，周围响起了此起彼伏的烟花爆竹声，伴随着浓烟、建筑物的震动和数百辆汽车的警报声。在大城市，烟花会持续燃放一到两个小时。
- Before New Year's Eve dinner: When the reunion dinner is ready, many families light firecrackers to invite ancestors to celebrate the festival together. It is also a way to add a jubilant atmosphere to the festival and it brings great happiness.
- 年夜饭前：当团年饭准备好时，许多家庭点燃鞭炮，意在邀请祖先一起过节。这也是为节日增添喜庆气氛的一种方式，它会带来莫大的快乐。
- At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Day: It is customary to stay up until midnight after the reunion dinner. Firecrackers and fireworks are set off at the stroke of midnight to scare away evil spirits and celebrate the coming of the new year.
- 新年第一天午夜钟声敲响时：人们习惯在除夕团年饭后熬夜到午夜时分，那时人们会燃放鞭炮和烟花，以驱走恶灵，庆祝新年的到来。
- On New Year's Day morning: In some places, families first set off firecrackers when they open the door or before they go out. It symbolizes good luck throughout the whole year.
- 新年第一天的早晨：在一些地方，每家每户会在开门或出门前首先燃放鞭炮，这喻示着一整年的好运。
- Many families will not sweep the red paper left by firecrackers immediately because they believe that the act of sweeping on this day is associated with sweeping wealth away.
- 许多家庭不会立即清扫鞭炮留下的红纸屑，因为他们认为这一天的清扫会扫除来年的财富。
- The Lantern Festival: It marks the end of the celebration of Chinese New Year. People set off firecrackers and fireworks to ward off misfortune and bring good luck.
- 元宵节：它标志着中国新年庆祝活动的结束，人们通过燃放鞭炮和烟花来避祸祈福。
3. Other Occasions to Light Firecrackers
其他燃放鞭炮的场合
Firecrackers are commonly used in celebrations of holidays or festivals. There are many other occasions where firecrackers are used, such as wedding ceremonies, seniors' birthday parties, house warming parties, and the opening of a business. They are used to bring blessings and happiness.
鞭炮通常用于庆祝假期或节日。还有许多其他场合（如结婚典礼、长者寿宴、乔迁之喜和开张大吉）也会燃放鞭炮，以此来祈愿吉祥和幸福。
Setting off firecrackers is not always used for celebrations. In the Qingming Festival and at funerals, the use of firecrackers is to honor the dead.
燃放鞭炮并不总是用于庆祝活动。在清明节和葬礼上，燃放鞭炮是为了纪念逝者。
4. Bans or Restrictions on Firecrackers and Fireworks
禁止或限制燃放烟花爆竹
For the sake of safety and environmental protection, many cities across China have imposed bans or restrictions on the use of fireworks and firecrackers during festivals and holidays. In these cases, it's illegal for individuals to set off fireworks and firecrackers. People can only set them off at designated venues.
为了安全和环境保护，中国许多城市都禁止或限制在节日和假日燃放烟花爆竹。在这些情况下，私自燃放烟花爆竹是违法的，人们只能在指定地点燃放。
If you would like to see a show of firecrackers and fireworks in a city, you need to check the designated venues and time frames in advance. Hong Kong is a great place to see fireworks. During Chinese New Year, there is an annual fireworks show over Victoria Harbor.
如果你想在一个城市观看烟花爆竹表演，你需要提前检查指定的地点和时间范围。香港是观赏烟花的好地方。在中国新年期间，维多利亚港上空每年都会有一场烟花表演。
