He brought the umbrella swishing down through the air to point at Dudley — there was a flash of violet light, a sound like a firecracker, a sharp squeal.
They usually build a doll made of old rags and stuffed with fireworks and firecrackers to light them up and symbolize leaving the bad things from the old year behind.
They were interested to see all of the red papers, lanterns and burnt bamboo (the cause of the cracking sound and inspiration for modern-day firecrackers).
Today in most countries for safety issues, it is illegal for individuals to light firecrackers, but these tradition persist to make it safe and enjoyable for the public.
People then took measures to send the monster away, such as putting up red couplets as Nian detested the color red, and setting off fireworks and firecrackers at their doors to scare it away.
Traditionally, herds of New Yorkers head to Sara D. Roosevelt Park every year for the firecracker release in order to ward off the bad omens of the past year.