fireworks on Remembrance Day - yes or no

[toffeepumpkins]

There are masses of fireworks going off round here, we've just been discussing whether or not they are right or wrong to have them on Remembrance Day. I'm on the fence but my friend is adamant that it's disrespectful.

Given there are former services workers with PSED that can be triggered by them then it is very thoughtless to let them off at Remembrance time when loss and trauma is so close to mind.

Well, the Lord Mayor's show with its enormous fireworks was today. It is always on the second Saturday of November, so has been coinciding regularly. Seems fine, never heard anyone complain about it. It does of course pre-date Remembrance Day by some 500 years.

You can tell I work in Early Years when I type PSED but mean PTSD, sorry.

Ah, is that why they're going off?

I did wonder.

Odd 'event' for fireworks. They're a celebratory thing. Today is for remembering.

As I said, the Lord Mayor's show pre-dates this by more than 500 years. I don't think all celebrations have to be stopped, pubs and bars are open after all. It's not like they let rip at 11am.

Disrespectful. It is not a celebration.

It is a show that has been going on for more than 500 YEARS. 800 according to the Lord Mayor.

It's not the Lord Mayor's show here, we don't have one. We live in a tiny place, it's not an area that celebrates other festivals which traditional culminated in firework displays either so I'm surprised by it. I do think it's disrespectful thought maybe it was just me being a killjoy.

NO! NO! And once again NO!

London maybe but the rest of the country no.

That's not even remotely a thing.

Today is Armistice Day.
Tomorrow is Remebrance SUNday.

We had fireworks going off around 1800h too. Was this really because it's 11th November? It really doesn't feel appropriate.

I agree I wouldn't plan a firework or celebratory event on Remembrance Day unless it is a long-established one. I would not cancel a traditional one though. In the spirit of “When you go Home, tell them of us and say,
For your Tomorrow, we gave our Today”.

Disrespectful in my view. It is a day of rememberance . What about those who have ptsd after serving their countries. ? Fireworks going off while they are paying their respects and remembering fallen comrades could cause them distress.

Some arseholes beside us let off a load of fireworks earlier at teatime.
I often think there should be a law passed that fireworks are only allowed to be set off on bonfire night and New Year's Eve unless you have a licence/organised display.

Since I posted earlier, a load of fireworks have started going off here too... we are in a tiny village!!!!

Is this a new thing that I haven't been told about?

Fireworks have just stopped here. Small village ( but not sure that’s relevant). I have no idea why they’re going off, especially as village bonfire event was last weekend. We heard a rehearsal of the Last Post yesterday afternoon which was also slightly strange (we live round the corner from the war memorial).

Our village has fireworks the nearest Saturday to 5th Nov that has the lowest tide. Which is today. Just coincides this year. No disrespect meant. We also have a very well attended Remembrance Sunday service, with a parade to the war memorial lay wreaths.

I was driving on a motorway earlier and saw fireworks. I wondered why, I wasn't anywhere near where I live so didn't know if it was some kind of local event.

Nevere heard of them for remembrance

Umm. We had fireworks last night for DS's birthday, it's become a bit of a tradition that we do them the closest Saturday to his birthday. Not sure if ever fallen on 11th before but didn't even occur to me tbh. Feel a bit bad now reading this thread but it's the norm round here to hear fireworks any time from mid October to mid November due to Diwali, Guy Fawkes etc. Today is Rememberance Sunday and we've just returned from a parade so definitely no disrespect intended here.

I posted a few pics on Facebook of our fireworks and got loads of likes so it clearly wasn't frowned upon if people even made the connection. As already mentioned, there were fireworks for Lord Mayor's Show and afaik no one complained so I think probably to be offended is an overreaction.. ..

They aren't going off because it is Remembrance Day, they are going off because it has been normal practice for a very, very long time to have bonfire / fireworks parties on both the weekends either side of 5th Nov. Local displays are often fundraisers, and they make sure they aren't on the same day as the next local event to them, to maximise income.

Remembrance is at 11am. There is no correlation between that and fireworks displays.

@womannothot Feel a bit bad now reading this thread but it's the norm round here to hear fireworks any time from mid October to mid November due to Diwali, Guy Fawkes

You live in an area where fireworks is the norm so I wouldn't be worried - we live in a tiny market town where it's rare to hear fireworks except on Nov 5th. That's a cultural difference and I'd say that makes it accept where you live, where I live it's not really considered to be the done thing.

So glad to see this thread.
I find fireworks on Armistice Day or Rememberence Sundayay completely inappropriate. There were loads last night and I wondered if I was being precious in finding it offensive. I'm so glad it isn't just me.