Today, 10:25
Authors:
Zemgale Television
Local governments across Latvia are planning public New Year’s Eve celebrations. Although the budgets of many local governments are limited, fireworks displays are increasingly becoming the highlight of the celebrations this year. A survey of local governments shows that almost half of all local governments in Latvia are planning to celebrate the New Year with fireworks, Zemgale Regional Television reports.
In Aizkraukle, New Year’s Eve celebrations will once again take place in the Central Square, where a concert program and fireworks are planned for midnight. Arvis Upītis, representative of the Aizkraukle local government (Latvian Development/Vidzeme Party), pointed out that this is a tradition familiar to residents.
The Ogre municipality will also welcome the New Year with fireworks, confirmed Andris Krauja (National Alliance), deputy chairman of the Ogre Regional Council:
“As every year, the Ogre District Cultural Centre is organising a ball where residents have the opportunity to participate in the festive event for a fee, of course. At midnight, of course, there will be fireworks. This is important to residents, and we traditionally adhere to the tradition of having fireworks on both November 18 and New Year’s Eve, and we feel that residents want this.”
Meanwhile, residents’ opinions on fireworks are divided.
Kristians, a resident of Ogre: “It’s not important, but I think it would be nice to watch, and the children like it too.”
Diana, a resident of Ogre: “I don’t really have a definite opinion, because it’s nice that there is this event, and it’s sad that there are consequences.”
Guna, a resident of Ogre: “No! Why? First, it disturbs the animal world, and second, it’s a complete waste of money. That money could be invested more usefully elsewhere.”
Two years ago, in solidarity with Ukraine, there were mostly no festive fireworks, but this year, almost half of the local governments have included them in their festive programmes.
Jānis Nutovcs, chairman of the board of the Independent Pyrotechnicians Association, pointed out that there is a growing trend for local governments not to spend their own budgets on fireworks, but to use the support of entrepreneurs.
Pyrotechnicians note that at the end of the year, there is also an increase in interest in fireworks among private individuals.
“The tradition of private fireworks in Latvia has, let’s say, gone through many years. On average, households spend 50 euros on fireworks for their celebrations,” commented Nutovcs.
Statistics show that New Year’s Eve is the most important day for pyrotechnics sales, accounting for almost a third of the total annual turnover. Meanwhile, nature experts point out that fireworks harm birds and animals, while rescue workers and medics compile statistics every year on injuries and fires caused by fireworks.
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