. . . To be dreading "bonfire night"

[AllesAusLiebe]

Hi everyone,

So, I'll start by saying that I'm not originally from the UK and I don't want to criticise the customs and traditions here.

I've got a 2 year old and a cat and every single year, I dread this holiday.

The worst thing about it for me is that it isn't just one night. My cat has been completely losing his shit since last weekend because of people setting off fireworks. I've tried creating a little corner of the living room for him and have a Feliway plug in, but the poor little guy is terrified.

Then, there's my son. I thought that due to coronavirus, this year would be a more scaled back affair, but I'm dreading next Thursday as I know that the lack of outdoor displays will mean that more people will be setting fireworks off in their gardens. He sleeps well, but lightly. I have visions of him being woken up multiple times during the next week. He's generally scared of loud noise, and he's too young for me to explain to him what's going on.

So, if you've got small kids and/or pets, what do you do? Does anyone else absolutely hate this, or do I need to stop being such a spoilsport and embrace it?

It should be illegal to let them off any time except november 5 th

I absolutely hate it too. We've had kids lobbing them at each other next to our tube station for weeks, hitting buses and shops, and last time i took DD to the playground they were chucking them round in there. Police don't care. Roll on two weeks' time!

I'm not usually bothered either way by bonfire night. My dogs aren't worried by it - but they live in a busy chaotic home so probably used to random noise. I like seeing them and quite happy for neighbours to have them but I don't go out of my way to go to a display now my children are older.

However, I think I'll quite miss seeing the village one from my bedroom window this year and hope that neighbours do have some so I can have a nose out of my window at them. This year I think our traditions are more important than ever.

YANBU there's always someone letting them off for far too long. A house a few doors from us starts early October and it carries on until mid January! It's nearly every night and with 2 small children and 2 cats it's a nightmare.
I'd love to see them banned outside of organised displays (and how do they afford it?! It must be hundreds wasted!).

It's also my dads birthday, he died a few years ago and all my memories of the night are of going to displays with him. I can't face it now, his death was unexpected and traumatic (the anniversary being around now too). That's obviously a personal reason to dread the day but it's a tough day anyway, without the cats terrified and shitting everywhere or the kids overtired and unable to sleep.

@isadoradancing123

It should be illegal to let them off any time except november 5 th

... or the other days on which cultural traditions include setting off fireworks, right?

We were dreading it last year as we had a three month old puppy. She didn’t turn a hair.

Putting all the radios on in the house and TVs. Anything to muffle the sound. Never worked 100%, but stopped the dogs from being complete nervous wrecks.

YANBU
You would be if you objected to 5th November fireworks, but you're right in that some idiots thing firework season lasts a whole fortnight.

Fireworks tend not to be late at this time of year. It is dark by teatime.

No, no other days, nov 5 th only

And it’s only about 10 days a year.

But its not though, is it. I've been targeted by teenage scrotes throwing fireworks at my house since the start of October, and even the Police think it'll be going on after 5th November. Fucking terrifying for adults, never mind my 2 kids and the cat.

People use them for weddings here so we get them, impromptu, all year as well.
Big fucking bangers to let off before dark too.

YANBU I absolutely hate firework season, which lasts about a month. My dog is terrified of fireworks, and I always think about the cows, sheep and horses in the fields and the birds in the trees being traumatised. Just so pointless and needlessly damaging to wildlife and livestock.

This scenario reminds me of moving next to a church then moaning about the bells.

This scenario reminds me of moving next to a church then moaning about the bells
It's not the same at all.

Not wanting to have weeks of fireworks at any hour isn't unreasonable. When you move next to a church then bells are reasonable noise and entirely anticipated.

Just because every year anti social firework noise can be expected doesn't make it reasonable. Every year our area Facebook group has complaints of teenagers throwing fireworks. Every year theres fireworks on and off through October and into November. Every year my friend ends up worried as her neighbours do their DIY night, ignoring the fact that the bottom of their garden is actually way too close to the houses at the back.Some people are selfish and antisocial.

Thanks everyone for the replies and suggestions. I like the idea of the Bing episode - I'll look into this. I've seen thunder shirts for dogs, but will have a look for one for my little cat.

This scenario reminds me of moving next to a church then moaning about the bells
@Newfornow no, it isn't. It's the equivalent of moving next to a church and acknowledging the tradition of the ringing of the bells and wishing that they could ring a little less frequently.

I love fireworks. I do think that they should be limited to public displays, though. I don't think they should be sold to the public.

I completely agree!! My poor dog literally poo's himself if he hears them. If it's the odd one then it's ok but if it's relentless that's when it's a problem. I hate seeing the fear in his face every time and there's nothing I can do except try and make him feel safe.

I'm torn. I have little ones and pets, but I think mine are quite hardy because although they stay in, they aren't jibbering wrecks.

I do however think that fireworks are dangerous and that they should be tightly restricted.

Diwali is in the middle of Nov this year so it's nothing to do with that

Fireworks are so dangerous, people get seriously injured every year. They shouldn’t be allowed outside of official displays, which should involve giving notice to local communities. They can set off PTSD reactions when unexpected in groups like veterans, scare and injure animals, and are bad for the environment. When Dubai changed their fireworks display to a light show to be more sustainable - it was more beautiful.

Whilst I love Bonfire Night & my town council usually does an excellent display, people have been setting off fireworks in their gardens since mid-October... And like every year, they will continue until the New Year. Drives me nuts!

@Titsywoo

Diwali is in the middle of Nov this year so it's nothing to do with that

Diwali is the end event of a long festival season. The nine nights of Navrati followed by Dussera has just finished and in the UK it’s customary to light fireworks rather than risk fires by lighting lamps. Some people do it everyday. Then we have all the various days of Diwali / Hindu Halloween.

I absolutely fucking hate it. I stay home with my cats, have permanent pet remedy plugins anyway, and I play relaxing cat music from Spotify to chill us all out and try to drown out the bangs... Sounds insane but they've always been jumpy but ok. Last year I had to leave them, thought they'd be fine, following day my fluffy cat was in the vet with stress-induced cystitis.

I'm thankful that the massive display at the uni nearby is likely to not go ahead because of covid but I really hate fireworks season.