In China, fiery debate on fireworks ban continues ahead of Lunar New Year

Chinese lawmakers weighed in on a heated online debate on Friday regarding the use of fireworks to celebrate the Lunar New Year in February, expressing that a complete ban on pyrotechnics in the country credited with their invention would be challenging to enforce.

In an unusually candid response, lawmakers acknowledged that air pollution prevention laws and fire safety regulations have created “differences in understanding” regarding the fireworks ban, which was never absolute.

Official data from 2017 revealed that 444 cities had prohibited fireworks. Since then, some cities have relaxed restrictions, permitting fireworks during specific times of the year and at designated locations.

However, this month witnessed several counties issuing notices reinstating the prohibition on fireworks, reigniting discussions about the ban.

“We’ve the right to fireworks,” wrote a user of Weibo, a popular Chinese microblog.

According to folklore, the earliest fireworks were invented 2,000 years ago to drive away the “nian”, a mythical beast that preyed on people and livestock on the eve of the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival.

Since then, fireworks have been used to celebrate other occasions: this January, after three years of COVID-19 curbs were lifted, some people defied bans – and authorities – and set off firecrackers.

But some Chinese said the firework bans were necessary to protect the environment.

“It should be regulated due to pollution and safety (fire) hazards,” a Weibo user said.

In an online poll by the official Beijing Youth Daily this week, however, over 80% of respondents expressed support for fireworks during the Spring Festival, the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar.

Some also said the ban was ironic after the United Nations last week adopted the Spring Festival as an official holiday, a move cheered by Chinese officials.

“The Spring Festival belongs to the world, but China’s is almost gone,” wrote another Weibo user.

In southern Hunan province, a major fireworks manufacturing hub, exports totalled 4.11 billion yuan ($579 million) from January to November, state media reported, far exceeding domestic sales.

With inputs from Reuters.