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?

Obviously we don't want to upset anyone's pet or baby. That's why we're letting people know in advance. So they can bring them in or go out or whatever. I have 2 cats myself but we lock them.inside when it gets dark so it's not really a problem for us.
And to the PP we live in an end of terrace house with a pretty big garden.

OP, ignore everyone on here. It’ll be fine

I love watching fireworks but I do think they should be banned unless being used at a professional organised fireworks display. I have a dog who is absolutely petrified of them, but if I know a display is on nearby I can take him up on the moors in the car, put the radio on and watch them.

Everyone who has pets who are scared of them will surely keep their animals indoors on Nov 5th anyway so I wouldn't warn anyone. People should be aware there are loud bangs on Nov 5th.

The idea that all dogs are scared of loud bangs is a bit of a fallacy if you ask me.

Near me there is a shooting range and the bangs from the shotguns can be really loud. There is a walking route near it that tons of people use to walk their dogs and I have only ever seen one scared dog (and one unreasonably furious owner) in the whole I time I have used it. And all types/sorts of dogs are walked on that path.

You probably won't get any answer to that, because there isn't one.

If the neighbours are fairly close (like an ordinary street) I'd definitely put a note through, more for pets than children, people with anxious dogs like to prepare by putting the radio on and some people I know even use medicine from the vet because their dogs are so anxious. They can't moan, it's bonfire night, but it'll help people prep. If you're more rural and the houses are distant then I think it's a bit different, but they way you said you see them in the street makes me think you're going to be right next door to them - in which case I'd definitely just do a note.

Honestly, fireworks are such a nuisance. I sort of can't believe that anyone is allowed to buy them.

Can't you go to a public display instead?

No, not all pets are scared. As I said in my post, I have one dog who doesn't care a jot about fireworks and one that is terrified.

Yes you can bring them inside, as I'm sure we all do, but the bangs and thumps can still be heard, even above a loud TV.

I know people have a right to do whatever they want, and I understand that fireworks will happen, but just shutting animals inside doesn't always work.

I love it when firework junk lands on my car and in my garden. It's great fun watching people set of fireworks in their face. Just do everyone a favour and go to an organised display.

After some absolute carnage last year, they've banned fireworks in loads of my city - but not the entire city which is frustrating.

I'd put a note through the door and stick to whatever times you say. I hate fireworks a lot and after a hideous experience with some local teenagers last year, my son is terrified of them so I'd very much appreciate the warning. Obviously I know you aren't obligated, but it's a kind thing to do - you don't know if your neighbours are army vets or have pets or anything.

I do encourage you to look for silent fireworks or focus on fun sparklers though as that won't hurt anyone. Fireworks are awful environmentally and really triggering for lots of people. My kids are very happy with some marshmallows on the firepit and some extra long sparklers (the super long ones are really fun)

Definitely let your new neighbours know, either notes through doors or telling them in person. Just be aware that a good few of them will consider you to be selfish cunts. Not how I’d choose to introduce myself to a new neighbourhood personally, mind.

I wish fireworks were banned for the general public, and professional displays had to be the low noise ones only. And to the pp who listed their “fireworks bingo”, maybe those same boring old arguments come up every year because they’re true?

Or maybe some people are just a bit soft

Maybe it was payback for your cats pooing all over their garden!

Im not trying to be argumentative here, but who the hell lets their animals out on 5th of bloody November. Surely you know there will be someone, somewhere letting fireworks off.

Have you checked if there’s a Facebook group? You’d be surprised how many places have little Facebook community groups. Or possibly next door app group.

Erm "selfish cunts" ??? For letting off fireworks which are perfectly legal, at a reasonable time, on fireworks night, with warning? You sound unhinged.

I find people who warn us even more annoying, tbh. They don’t actually give a shit about the consequences, they just want to feel they’ve absolved themselves of the responsibility of causing extreme distress to other living beings.

Extreme distress 🥴

As is calling someone a cunt (as in a pp) for a 20 mins firework display on a longstanding cultural event.

Live and let live goes in all directions.

OP - you might find that you live in a street of firework enthusiasts!

Thinking about this from my daughter's perspective and she's love to know so she could come watch! So you might find people are happy to know for both reason (I could hide in a closet with my son and my daughter could run over and stare into your garden in a possibly creepy way)

Yes, legal, expected, reasonable times, pre warned, and no doubt they’ll all smile to your face and say thank you very much for letting them know. And then they will go about their day thinking that you and your family are yet another bunch of selfish pillocks with your stupid bloody fireworks. Because they will have been going off for weeks already by that point, without warning, and possibly not at reasonable times of the evening, and they will continue going off for weeks more.
There are enough people on this thread telling you the same thing. To some people it’s no big deal, to others, it is a big deal. You can expect a similar range of opinions among your neighbours. Clearly you don’t mind that, so crack on.
Holding a negative opinion of someone isn’t really unhinged. One might argue that knowingly causing distress to pets and wildlife for half an hour’s entertainment is somewhat unhinged behaviour though.

Maybe offer to go round all your neighbours” gardens and pick up the spent fireworks. They are litter after all.

Fireworks are really not harmless!
I personally know someone who’s horse was so badly injured from taking off in fright from them that he had to be PTS, anecdotally ive heard of more. I also know a farmer whose dog took off in fear and though he searched for him it was too late as he was hit by a car. Wildlife should definitely be considered also. It is legal but very selfish. There’s a lot more to it than worrying that the neighbours won’t like you. Your daughter is old enough to be taught that animals matter more than her twenty minutes of fun

Technically, I didn’t call anyone a cunt, I just suggested that’s what her neighbours might think of her as…