KidSpirit

The Joy of Firecrackers

Global Beat

Light the wick as if you are lighting a birthday candle. Yet this time, after lighting it, run away as far as possible. Not too far though, if you do not want to miss the fun. Within a few seconds, it is as if there is a transparent war raging in midair, endless sounds of powerful explosions spring suddenly towards the sky. Even though the event seems intense, it is a sign of happiness and celebration. In Taiwan, we light firecrackers when there is something worth praising.

Chinese New Year is when most firecrackers occur. Other than celebrating a new milestone, the act of lighting firecrackers actually has deeper meaning. Firecrackers are often lit in front of houses and stores, since the deafening sounds intimidate evil spirits. In one of the Chinese tales, a monster named Nian is known for eating villagers and destroying houses. In order to drive it away, villagers put gunpowder into the hollow center of bamboo sticks. They make loud blasts to scare away Nian: the first firecrackers. This kind of origin story is often portrayed in stories passed down from our ancestors.

Firecrackers are also seen in parades on the streets. Significantly, the color red symbolizes the luck and joy people hope to have in the future year. The delicate gold lining represents the wealth people want to attract. Other than Chinese New Year, firecrackers are also lit for special occasions at my school. For example, we often light firecrackers when students have outstanding grade results and get into top schools. All of the students gather in front of our school as congratulatory announcements blast through every speaker. The boisterous noise resonates through the campus. It honors the hard work students have put in and the late nights they have gone through, studying textbook after textbook. It also encourages students who haven’t graduated to work hard to be able to participate in the joyful event in the future. As a result, firecrackers are famously known as a fun event and our community’s ritual. Our tradition for hundreds of years, firecrackers tighten our bonds with joy to this very day.

Yen-Yi Kuo is 16 years old and lives in Taipei, Taiwan. She is an outgoing person that enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves listening to music and making artwork. Moreover, she is an all-time passionate writer with a mind full of creativity.

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