Fireworks

[Sillysallysausage]

We moved house this January and love it here but don't yet know the neighbours very well. We've always held a family fireworks party for my 12 year old - her birthday is Nov 5th. It's only once a year, the fireworks are for maybe 20 mins between 8 and 8.30 and we have maybe 15 family members in the house.
Where we used to live all the neighbours were on a WhatsApp group so we used to message them a week or so beforehand and let people know so they could get pets indoors / go out / watch them too.
But I'm aware that a lot of people hate fireworks and we don't have a WhatsApp group here. How would you warn neighbours so that they don't end up annoyed at us?
We are not noisy neighbours generally. And the neighbours are all friendly if you see them in the street. Would a note through the door be overkill? Should I just try and engineer meeting them.in the street to mention it?
WWYD?

Either knock on their doors or put a note through, especially if there's young children or pets in the house.
And obviously make sure your garden is actually big enough and you aren't going to risk damage to thers property.

If you see them in the street, mention it, otherwise, a note through the door.

And you are being very considerate. Love them or hate them fireworks will come as no surprise to anyone on Nov 5th, it is legal, it’s a cultural festival and you are not continuing til late.

Enjoy the party!

Detached? Semi? Row of terraced houses?

are you aware they have any animals? Babies?

in short, I’d wrap up this selfish family tradition

Perhaps you could buy silent fireworks?

If you have moved to a new home could you not start a new tradition of having the family party without the fireworks?

Are the problems that fireworks cause to domestic pets and wild life really worth any transitory pleasure and the waste of money?

If your daughter is 12 she is old enough to take on board the negative effects of fireworks. Surely she can have a great party without them?

On any other night of the year I'd be furious. Assuming you actually do it on the 5th, I think you can get away with it although I still think its pretty selfish. (I would ban them completely if I had my way). If you really must do it, buy silent ones and hope that your daughter grows out of this very very soon so that you're not the evil neighbours for the rest of your time there. We have a street WhatsApp group, you'd be universally detested if you lived on my street. 🤣

Either a note or a knock and chat - good excuse to properly introduce yourselves. Ask them to spread the word too.

Definitely do something. We have cats and new neighbours didn’t inform us of their fireworks. We haven’t spoken to them since!

Go ahead and have the party. Out of courtesy by all means give them the heads up if possible but I really wouldn’t worry. If people hate fireworks that’s their problem not yours. It’s the 5th November and perfectly acceptable to have fireworks and people need to an accept that and I say that as a pet owner.

And if you’d been asked beforehand, what would you have said?

Don’t put them on the spot op

just start a new tradition

It is perfectly normal to have fireworks on bonfire night, it’s not selfish at all. This country is getting so woke that hardly any councils have bonfires any more and replace fireworks with a light show, it really is pathetic and such a shame.

I agree with this 100%

it's not just domestic pets but wild animals and birds.
Some animals shake for hours in fear and some run away in terror.

We know so much more now about the harm-I think it is time to be responsible and stop these displays.
Use silent ones or find other ways to celebrate.

Would have kept the cats in and said thanks for letting us know!

I'd knock or put a note through all the nearest doors. Unless you are on social media for the area?
I'd have absolutely hated it if I was next door as old dog was terrified to the point of weeing herself. I'd have appreciated the heads up so I could get her sorted.
We can't have any round here anyway as lots have thatched cottages and obviously thatch and fireworks are not a good combo!!!

but if you hadn’t have been happy ie a skittish dog? A highly sensitive baby?

It would have just put you on the spot

I wouldn’t warn people about fireworks on the 5th November.

It’s about time this outdated tradition was banned in the UK.

Why don’t you start a new tradition and go to a professional display instead as a compromise?

Our local council pays community groups to hold fireworks events to try to stop backyard displays for safety and noise nuisance problems.

We live in the UK. Fireworks at that time of year are traditional and cultural. Granted, they are normally let off in an organised display away from residential areas, but I don’t think a short display on the 5th November is a problem. Facing more difficulties than outdoor cat ownership, I’d have gone out for a while that evening to relatives or friends until the party was over.

You don't have to ask for permission to light some fireworks. Let it rip and if someone does not like it, fuck them. It's no like you are doing it at bloody 11 pm or something.

It's 5th November so fireworks shouldn't come as a surprise to people but a note with a time slot is a nice idea for the closest neighbours. More than a couple of doors down I wouldn't bother

I’d have felt dreadful had I been aware neighbours are leaving their homes just to get away from my fireworks

each to their own!

Where we live, people either live or hate fireworks, whenever someone puts on local Facebook group that they are having fireworks, there’s a barrage of abuse about how inconsiderate they are. Nearly every household has a dog or cat, we also have 4 horse stables nearby, so you can imagine fireworks are a big no for most of us. Please consider having silent ones.

We seem to get them around here on birthdays, Guy Fawkes and New Years Eve.

Noisy, but part of life. 🤷‍♀️

I thought backyard fireworks were frowned on these days? Organised displays are safer and less anti social. Why don't you as a family buy tickets for one of those as her birthday treat?

It's bonfire night. Fireworks are totally expected. You really don't need to warn people about something loads of other people will also be doing and hundreds of thousands of people will be paying to go and see