That's it. Today is the Lantern Festival, which is also the last day of Chinese Lunar New Year.
Tonight feels like a warzone (sorry for who really in a warzone). It has been years since the last time I heard the sounds of fireworks. Shame on the government for banning fireworks.
@skyblond@qoto.org Why? We're desperately trying to ban fireworks here. Always causes a lot of damage and not to mention of those poor animals.
@trinsec Good to know that. I think here in China, fireworks still have a pretty strong relationship with the lunar new year and celebrating stuff. For urban areas, it's allowed only during the lunar new year, which is about 15 days. However in Beijing and some other places, the fireworks has been banned all year around, so it's pretty boring. Usually we expected to do something unique and different during the new year, when I was young (before Beijing bans them), fireworks are the different thing.
For the animals, well, unfortunately, sorry for them.
@skyblond@qoto.org For us, fireworks is also only allowed during new year's eve. The problem is that the people cannot handle the responsibility. I know a person who's lost all his fingers on his right hand (yes I've even touched his hand and examined it).
New year doesn't need fireworks to be celebrated. There are alternatives, like hold a big meal for the neighbourhood. Get in contact with other people. That sorta thing. Right now it's all individualism and people buying fireworks for like 5000 euro... then I think 'wow, what kind of life do you have if fireworks is the only one to look forward to?'
@trinsec Yeah, you made a good point. Here in China fireworks also kill people. This year a firework store blew up and killed 12 people. And fireworks are expensive (actually this year I didn't buy any fireworks). But still I'm expecting to see it from time to time. Yesterday I saw one that I very much like the color and the shape. But that's the only one I liked from what I saw yesterday night.
I know Japan also has a tradition to set of fireworks on celebration, but instead of letting individual play with the danger, the host will usually handle it as part of the celebration. With a more capable group of people doing it, the fireworks are much more large scale and beautiful. I like this way, but didn't see any mock here in China, which I guess is also a shame.
@skyblond@qoto.org Yes, that the municipality or large organization will organize beautiful fireworks, that I can live with. That's indeed beautiful. Have watched those kind of fireworks a few times, really cool to see.
The consumer fireworks that the everyday people have are weak in comparison, and the large kids usually just buy loud mini-bombs that can do a lot of damage. No fun at all. And days before new year's eve they usually start causing trouble with this already, which is rather lame.
But yeah, I don't mind fireworks when it's professionally done. Those can be pure art.