Chinese Fireworks

One of the few facts about China I remember growing up was it was the civilization that discovered gun powder.  Many of the fireworks we buy in the US are made in China still today.

Fireworks are still very popular here today.  I've heard fireworks in rural towns and in Shanghai.  A few weeks back Bri and I were sitting in our living room on a Saturday morning discussing our weekend plans.  It was nice outside so we had the windows open.  Suddenly I heard a bang like our refrigerator had fallen over in the kitchen. I jumped and wandered into the kitchen looking for signs of something that had fallen.  Bri was laughing because she knew...someone was shooting fireworks off.  Soon another loud bang followed and I figured out that someone was launching loud firecrackers and they were exploding only about 40 yards away and about the same height of our 10th floor apartment.

So why the firecrackers any time and any day?  They're used to scare off bad spirits on birthdays, weddings or when moving into a new apartment.  I had a lesson interrupted in class a couple weeks ago  when it sounded like an assault team was entering the school gates facing heavy resistance.  My students were shocked and joined me in investigating the situation.  Luckily I have a nice amount of windows in my class and we were able to see the situation clearly. Someone was moving in to an apartment but before they would start unloading the furniture they had to scare away all of the bad spirits.  So whenever you buy a new car or house remember to make a ruckus before moving in to rid the space of whatever unwanted spirits may be lingering.