Limassol and Larnaca municipalities on Monday announced they would let off “silent fireworks” as part of their new year celebrations.
“For the first time, Limassol municipality will bring the magic of silent fireworks to the city. This innovative option offers impressive visual effects without the noise pollution of traditional fireworks,” Limassol’s municipality said, adding it was ideal for the environment, animals and small children.
Larnaca municipality said it had come to the decision “following requests from several of our fellow citizens”, with the aim of “protecting the town’s animals from deafening noises”.
Silent fireworks are made with a reduced amount of flash powder, which reduces the level of noise they produce. Flash powder is a chemical made from the mixing of an oxidiser and a metallic fuel, and it is responsible for the loud bang fireworks make when they detonate.
The Animal Party has long been against the practice of letting off fireworks, and had earlier drawn attention to the negative impact fireworks have on some people, as well as animals.
“The situation [regarding fireworks] is now out of control, and there is a serious problem with autistic children, the elderly, and for pets and other animals,” they said last year.
Larnaca and Limassol are among those places around the world to scale down their new year traditions this year, with some popular destinations having also banned alcohol.
The Italian city of Venice has banned the carrying of and consumption of drinks in glass containers in public on New Year’s Eve and has also restricted the sale of drinks in glass bottles in shops, bars and restaurants.
Meanwhile, the French city of Strasbourg has banned the purchase and consumption of alcohol between midnight at the start of New Year’s Eve and midday on New Year’s Day, with all people under the age of 16 years old also banned from being outside without their parents after 10pm on New Year’s Eve.
The popular Shibuya district in Japan’s capital Tokyo has entirely cancelled its new year celebrations, with public alcohol consumption now banned in the district all year round between 6pm and 5am.
Shibuya’s iconic Scramble Crossing, which used to host as many as 120,000 people for its New Year’s countdown, will lie empty as 2025 begins, after the countdown was cancelled due to safety concerns.
