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Fireworks big in New Year’s revelry
by Krista Goerte
The Paris News
Published December 31, 2007
Revelers the world over look to huge fireworks displays to ring in the New Year while in the Red River Valley, New Year’s fireworks displays are limited to private affairs.
To see the big displays, most residents resort to televisions to view fireworks in the different parts of the world as the midnight hour passes through numerous time zones.
One popular venue — Brussels — has canceled this year’s display due to terroristic attack threats in the Belgium capital, according to Associated Press reports.
Authorities warned of an increased risk of attack after police last week detained 14 people suspected of plotting to help an accused Al Qaeda militant break out of jail.
But expect to see fireworks displays in places like Australia, Japan, China, Italy, France, England and Russia as well as on the continents of Africa and South America.
Follow celebrations in the United States beginning at 11 p.m. CT with the dropping of the crystal ball in New York City as cities across the United States celebrate with fireworks displays as the midnight hour approaches from east to west.
“It’s that time of year,” said Justin Withers of Reno Fireworks Supercenter said of local fireworks sales. He said fireworks on New Year’s are not as big as on the Fourth of July, but business this time of year is still good.
Today's tradition of shooting off fireworks has a long history. The Chinese are credited with the invention of the fireworks around 2000 years ago. The original thought was that the loud bang and flash would scare away evil spirits and bring good luck. Fireworks were incorporated into many Chinese celebrations, although the new year gained the biggest fireworks displays.
Today in America, Fourth of July is the most popular holiday to shoot off fireworks, but fireworks were used for other celebrations including New Year’s, long before the first Independence Day celebration in 1777. Early American settlers brought fireworks to the new world.
The Times Tower in New York, then the tallest building in New York, held some of the biggest New Year’s fireworks displays from 1904-1906, until city officials banned the display due to safety concerns. It was replaced over the years by precursors to the Waterford Ball that comes down today.
Reno Fireworks Supercenter distributes safety guidelines with each purchase — they are printed on the plastic sacks carried out by customers.
Some important safety guidelines to remember are:
•Always purchase fireworks from a reliable source.
•Follow label instructions and use common sense.
•Always have close adult supervision and never give fireworks to small children.
•Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
•Use fireworks outdoors only in a clear area away from buildings, vehicles, and shrubbery
•Always have a bucket of water or a hose handy
•Never carry fireworks in your pocket or shoot them in metal glass containers.
•Light only one fireworks at a time.
•Wear eye protection.
•Never have any portion of your body over a fireworks.
•Don't experiment with homemade fireworks.
•Stay away from illegal explosives.
•Never attempt to re-light a fireworks. Wait 15-20 minutes, then place the fireworks in a bucket of water.
•If necessary, store fireworks in a cool, dry place.
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