Every Chinese New Year's Day, both on the streets and at home, is full of excitement and joy, especially for children who eagerly await its arrival. We wear our new clothes, share a New Year's Eve dinner, and visit the homes of relatives and friends. However, there is one thing that enjoys the best business during this time, and that is firecrackers. In ancient times, people set off firecrackers during the Chinese New Year to scare away the terrifying "Nian"(beast). My friends and I also enjoy playing with firecrackers together, making it a must-do activity every New Year. Although it is just a form of entertainment, it holds great significance to me. Being in a foreign country makes it hard to experience the New Year's celebrations of my hometown, but firecrackers can bring back memories of the lively times and moments spent with family, relatives, and friends. Here in the US I can also occasionally hear the sound of firecrackers, such as on Independence Day or certain festivals, but there is no such firecrackers that I can buy in Chinese stores. At this age, I can't find the feeling when I played with my old friends, but those memories and happy times are an indelible touch in our childhood.

– X.W

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