Fireworks sale starts today: pyrotechnicians expect bang sales

New Year's without crackers, firecrackers and rockets? Opinions differ on this every year.

Fireworks sale starts today: pyrotechnicians expect bang sales

New Year's without crackers, firecrackers and rockets? Opinions differ on this every year. After three years of a pandemic-related ceasefire, the industry is downright euphoric. The rush for fireworks is higher than ever.

The Federal Association of Pyrotechnics expects a great demand for firecrackers and rockets for New Year's Eve in the coming days. "It is becoming apparent that demand is higher than ever," said association chairman Ingo Schubert on RBB Inforadio. Colleagues from the specialist retail trade reported that the order situation in online retail could hardly be managed, according to Schubert.

As of today, fireworks can be sold in Germany for three days - for the first time in three years. In the two previous years, sales were prohibited in Germany due to the corona pandemic. Overall, the setting off of fireworks has been criticized because many people are injured and fires are caused by it on New Year's Eve. Environmental concerns are also regularly raised because tons of particulate matter are released when they burn. Animal rights activists complain about the noise pollution for animals.

When asked why, despite all the criticism, fireworks should continue to be sold and set off, Schubert said: "For me personally, fireworks are a beautiful custom to end the year. Fireworks manage to play with emotions like no other form of entertainment, because it's so big, because it's so powerful." Even with a view to the future, there is "nothing at all" against setting off private fireworks in sparsely populated areas and in suburbs. However, individual ban zones in metropolitan areas "make perfect sense" for the association.