According to ancient Chinese legend, a terrifying beast called Nian (年) would emerge from the mountains or sea on the eve of the New Year and attack villages — devouring livestock, crops, and even people. The villagers would hide in their homes, trembling with fear.

One year, an old man appeared and revealed the creature's weaknesses: it feared the color red, fire, and loud sounds. The villagers hung red lanterns and red paper on their doors, lit fires through the night, and beat drums and gongs. When Nian arrived, it fled in terror and never returned. From that day forward, the traditions of red decorations, fire, and loud celebrations became inseparable from the New Year.

The original "firecrackers" were simply green bamboo stalks thrown into fire. As the hollow sections heated, the trapped air and moisture expanded and burst with a loud crack — a satisfying explosion that, legend says, terrified evil spirits. This is the origin of the Chinese term 爆竹, which literally means "exploding bamboo."

After the invention of gunpowder (also Chinese, during the Tang Dynasty), paper-wrapped tubes filled with powder replaced bamboo. By the Song Dynasty, firecrackers in recognizable form were widespread across China, and elaborate fireworks displays at the imperial court dazzled onlookers.

Today, firecrackers and fireworks remain a cornerstone of Lunar New Year celebrations worldwide — particularly in rural China, Southeast Asia, Chinatowns globally, and during overseas community festivals. The tradition peaks at midnight on New Year's Eve, during the first morning of the new year, and again on the 15th day for the Lantern Festival.

However, due to air pollution, fire hazards, and noise concerns, firecrackers have been banned or restricted in many major Chinese cities since the 1990s, with enforcement tightening further in the 2010s. In their place, virtual fireworks apps, LED displays, and choreographed drone light shows have become popular modern alternatives.