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[0:46] The Cultural Significance and Customs of Setting Off Firecrackers During the Chinese New Year

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This article explains the traditional cultural significance and customs of setting off firecrackers during the Chinese New Year, covering its historical origins, modern celebrations, and symbolic meaning for families and society, while providing English listening practice suitable for beginners.

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Content

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It is an important custom to set off firecrackers during the Chinese New Year period. In traditional Chinese culture, firecrackers were originally used to scare away evil spirits. The loud sounds and bright flashes were believed to drive away negative energies and bring good luck to families for the upcoming year. This practice has been passed down for generations and remains a vital part of New Year celebrations in China.

Today, lighting firecrackers is more than a ritual; it is a major custom to celebrate the coming of the New Year. People gather in streets, homes, and public places to ignite firecrackers, creating a vibrant and joyful environment. The tradition enhances the festive atmosphere, symbolizing happiness, prosperity, and the hope for a better year ahead. While the original purpose was spiritual protection, modern celebrations emphasize social bonding and cultural expression.

That is all the listening content for the daily beginner English short passage collected by Qicai site editor Xiao Wu. We hope you gain some benefits after listening!

Listening Comprehension

  • enhance

    verb

    1. increase

    e.g. This will enhance your enjoyment
    heighten the tension

    Synonym: heightenraise

    2. make better or more attractive

    e.g. This sauce will enhance the flavor of the meat

  • atmosphere

    noun

    1. a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing

    e.g. an air of mystery
    the house had a neglected air
    an atmosphere of defeat pervaded the candidate's headquarters
    the place had an aura of romance

    Synonym: airaura

    2. the mass of air surrounding the Earth

    e.g. there was great heat as the comet entered the atmosphere
    it was exposed to the air

    Synonym: air

    3. the envelope of gases surrounding any celestial body

    4. a unit of pressure: the pressure that will support a column of mercury 760 mm high at sea level and 0 degrees centigrade

    Synonym: standard atmosphereatmstandard pressure

    5. the weather or climate at some place

    e.g. the atmosphere was thick with fog

    Synonym: atmospheric state

    6. a particular environment or surrounding influence

    e.g. there was an atmosphere of excitement

    Synonym: ambianceambience

  • celebrate

    verb

    1. assign great social importance to

    e.g. The film director was celebrated all over Hollywood
    The tenor was lionized in Vienna

    Synonym: lionizelionise

    2. have a celebration

    e.g. They were feting the patriarch of the family
    After the exam, the students were celebrating

    Synonym: fete

    3. behave as expected during of holidays or rites

    e.g. Keep the commandments
    celebrate Christmas
    Observe Yom Kippur

    Synonym: observekeep

  • custom

    noun

    1. accepted or habitual practice

    Synonym: usageusance

    2. habitual patronage

    e.g. I have given this tailor my custom for many years

    3. a specific practice of long standing

    Synonym: tradition

    4. money collected under a tariff

    Synonym: customscustoms dutyimpost

  • traditional

    adj

    1. consisting of or derived from tradition

    e.g. traditional history
    traditional morality

    2. pertaining to time-honored orthodox doctrines

    e.g. the simple security of traditional assumptions has vanished