One of the most popular ways to celebrate the upcoming New Year for many Filipinos is by lighting fireworks during New Year’s eve. Loud, bombastic, and a fun activity for young and old alike. It’s easy to see why lighting fireworks are a staple for many Filipinos’ New Year’s eve.
Unfortunately, welcoming the coming New Year with fireworks also comes with risks of its own. Mishandling of fireworks can lead to grave injuries, not to mention the ill effects of gunpowder on people with asthma and other respiratory problems. Overexposure to the noise made by fireworks can also lead to hearing damage to you and your pets as well.
So if you’re looking for alternatives to celebrating the New Year with ten fingers and good hearing, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I will discuss five alternative ways to celebrate the New year with your family without the use of fireworks.
Celebrate at Home With Your Family.
Let’s start this article with the simple act of celebrating the New Year at home with your family. Going outside during New Year’s Eve not only exposes you to the noise of fireworks and the pungent smell of gunpowder but of Covid as well. Staying at home keeps you and your family safe and gives you more time to bond with them during the holidays.
You may then ask: “I can do that alongside launching fireworks. What makes celebrating inside our homes more fun than launching and then watching fireworks?” Well, celebrating at home lets you party and play games with your family at your heart’s content. Not only will you welcome 2022 with a bang, but you also welcome it with both your fingers and hearing intact.
But if your family’s not into partying: then a simple Media Noche with your family is more up your alley. Again, similar to the Noche Buena, your meal doesn’t have to be grand. As long as you and your family are satisfied with it, then it’s already a great one.
Hold a Music and Laser Light Show.
Another great way to celebrate the New Year without fireworks is by holding a music and laser light show in your area. Aside from being just as loud and colorful as a fireworks show, a music and laser lights show is also much safer. No need to worry about needing a bucket of water handy all the time. You just need an extension cord and good speakers for this show.
Additionally, music and laser light shows are also environmentally friendly. Aside from noise pollution, a music and laser light show doesn’t produce any waste. Compare this to fireworks, where gunpowder particles linger in the area for a while and the fireworks wrappers littering the streets during New Year’s Day.
Use Glow Sticks Instead.
If having a music and laser light show is too much for you, why not celebrate using glow sticks? Glow sticks are translucent plastic sticks that can form items like necklaces and bracelets when combined. These, coupled with a simple family celebration as mentioned before, are a great way to celebrate New Year if you prefer a simple celebration.
Another advantage of celebrating via glow sticks is it’s cheaper than fireworks or music and laser light show. If you’re looking to lighten up your celebration while on a budget, then celebrating with glow sticks is the way to go.
Use Alternative Noisemakers.
What if you want to celebrate the New Year as loud as possible without fireworks, but a music and laser show is too expensive for your budget? Well, if that’s the case, why not use alternative noisemakers instead? These may not be as flashy or grandiose as fireworks, but they are safer and more readily available to you.
These range from the popular torotot or vuvuzela to something simple like loudly clapping your hands and stomping your feet. Other alternative noisemakers include banging pot lids and pan covers together and/or honking your motorcycle’s horn if you have one. Get creative with making these noisemakers and utilize what you have at hand if you’re on a budget.
Rent a Karaoke Machine.
And finally, if you’re feeling daring, you can rent a karaoke machine in place of fireworks. Aside from showcasing your singing talents, or at least your singing, a karaoke machine is also pretty loud. I was actually considering placing this alongside the other alternative noisemakers. But then I remembered how much we love karaoke, so I separated this one.
Aside from being fun for the whole family, you can also use karaoke machines throughout New Year’s Eve as well. The only thing holding you back from spending the night singing is fatigue… or your less than pleasant voice.
Happy New Year!
Fireworks have been a tradition for Filipinos to celebrate the upcoming New Year for a long time now. But because handling it can be dangerous, many now look for alternatives to fireworks for their New Year celebrations.
With this in mind, here are five alternatives to fireworks to try during this upcoming New Year. These alternatives can bring just as much bright lights and loud noise as fireworks, but are much safer. Some are even cheaper than fireworks as well!
