More on Fireworks, or Earplugs: A Solid Investment

Fireworks are not difficult to obtain here. Booths selling them can be seen every few blocks during the lead-up to Spring Festival and for a while afterward - they are allowed to sell them until February 2nd. The sound of fireworks is near constant both on the festival day and the following day. Now, I noted the power of these things in a previous post, but I think I should emphasize. First, the size. The basic noisemakers come in strands of various sizes. Some of them are about the same size as strings of Black Cats or comparable firecrackers. Others...well, take a look.




What you are looking at is a full roll of noisemakers. These too come in different sizes. The one pictured - easily the largest I saw - was well over ten feet in length. (Compare the people and the car in the top picture) Note the round object at the opposite end. This contains a larger charge which activates once the wick has burned all the way down, producing a deep booming noise not unlike thunder.

In case you're wondering; no, a twelve-foot string of firecrackers doesn't always burn all the way to the end in one end. The monstrous roll pictured above (which, you may notice, is already partially spent) had to be relit three times before it burned all the way down. Several of the people (including this guy) were lighting these things with their cigarettes. Ponder that.

But the noisemakers pale in comparison to the other popular daytime fireworks. I don't know what they're called, so let's just call them "Pain." You know Screamers? Those rocket-like fireworks that make an indescribably annoying sound that makes you wish for deafness? Well, Pains are like those on steroids. They fire with little noise, then explode in midair with a sound like a bomb going off. You would not think such a small tube could make a noise like that, but there you go. Between those and the automatic-rifle sound of the noisemakers, it sounds like we're being invaded. Nice way to wake up. (Did I mention they start firing these things at 8 A.M.?)

Around 8 in the evening, there's a merciful switch to aerials which, in addition to being quieter, are also quite pretty. As far as I can tell, there's no official show - the fireworks, which were still going when I went to bed at midnight, are entirely fired by individual residents. The result is an impressive blanket of colorful sparks coming out everywhere you look. I didn't even need to leave the apartment - the show was clearly visible from my window. It was nice enough that I ignored the fact that many of the fireworks were being fired mere yards from the buildings. (Safe!)