Firecrackers at night during the Chinese New Years Celebration.

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Firecrackers are commonly used in celebration of holidays or festivals like the Chinese New Years. Ancient Chinese legends tell of the Nian, a man-eating beast from the mountains which came out every winter to feast on humans. To scare the Nian away, the people used loud noises such as firecrackers and bright colors, particularly red. These customs led to the first New Year celebrations. Firecrackers are set off as soon as the new year arrives. Traditionally fireworks are also a sign of getting rid of the old and welcoming the new.

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Size: 5120px × 3427px
Location: Los Angeles Chinatown, California, USA
Photo credit: © Jamie Pham / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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