China has been called the kingdom of the Poet. A great number of poems have been composed about fireworks and firecrackers. The most loved have been recited and enjoyed by generations.
Below are a few translated examples. Though translation often renders the poem less that enjoyable, you can appreciate the significance that fireworks hold to the writer.
A poem to describe the effects of fireworks:
"Silver flowers
Fire tree
Disappeared
Star bridge
Iron lock
Come near."
A poem describing the role of fireworks in the New Year festival:
"The breaks of fireworks say goodbye to the last year,
Spring wind has brought warmth to Suzhou City"
A figurative poem of a fireworks devotion:
"Just for the applaud of common people
They tear themselves into pieces
Let their lives
Come down in multiple colours."
Foreign literature also celebrates the color and pageantry of fireworks. Examples include:
American poet Fima's 'Flower, Smoke'
Philippine poet Heguan's 'Firework'
Firework Legends
Chinese children grow up with folk stories about fireworks.
An example of one of these is an ancient story about crackers.
A three-meter tall one-footed monster causes the people he meets to fall sick. He is not afraid of anyone, but when the people roast bamboo with the purpose of producing a load bang, the monster is scared and runs away.