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Tengrinews.kz – In Kazakhstan’s social media, Almaty residents have begun calling for a New Year celebration without fireworks.
One of the posts argued for the idea, citing air quality concerns:
“Almaty residents, let’s agree not to set off fireworks on the 31st! The air is already hard to breathe,” the post reads.
The post quickly gathered dozens of comments, many supporting the idea of celebrating the New Year without fireworks.
“Let’s skip the fireworks. It’s impossible to go outside on the first and you can’t even see the sun,” one user commented.
For some, the issue revolves around the belief that pyrotechnics are an unnecessary waste of money:
“Even if I have the money to buy fireworks, I would never do it. The most pointless waste of money,” wrote another user. “Last year, the whole city was filled with fireworks. Two minutes of vanity—pure selfishness.”
Many also pointed out the harm fireworks cause to animals:
“Last year I asked people not to set off fireworks; it scares stray dogs and pets. People cursed me and said they would set off even more. Some have stopped being human,” shared one resident.
Another user mentioned that fireworks constantly disturb her family’s sleep, especially her 5-month-old niece:
“They celebrate on weekdays and weekends. We have a five-month-old niece, and she wakes up from every bang. The dog is also scared. I used to take it calmly, but as I get older, I realize how much it disturbs us,” she said.
However, some remain skeptical that the city will actually forgo fireworks:
“Unfortunately, most people won’t think about this on the 31st,” wrote one resident.
Alternative ideas were suggested in the comments:
“Better use that money to buy meat,” suggested one user.
Many supported this idea, with others urging for a campaign to promote a quiet New Year:
“Let’s spread the word on social media: this year, consciously ignore fireworks and firecrackers,” one commenter noted.
Some people also recalled that New Year’s Eve used to be celebrated without fireworks:
“We used to peacefully celebrate the New Year without any pyrotechnics,” said another commenter.
However, not everyone agreed:
“For those selling fireworks, who’s going to feed them?” asked one user. “Personal cars cause far more harm to the environment, but people won’t give those up.”
What the city administration says
We reached out to the city administration to inquire whether fireworks will be launched in Almaty this year. As of the time of publication, no response was received.
For context, on New Year's Eve 2024-2025, Almaty did hold a fireworks show at Astana Square, with hundreds of residents attending. The same square hosted a large celebration the year before, including concerts and a fireworks display.
However, on New Year's Eve 2021-2022, Almaty opted not to have fireworks due to the worsening epidemiological situation and the need to avoid mass gatherings to reduce the risk of infection.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs reminded residents to only buy certified pyrotechnics, follow safety instructions, and not allow minors to handle fireworks. Safety checks are being conducted at markets and retail locations to remind businesses about safety regulations.
Police emphasized that responsible handling of fireworks helps prevent injuries, fires, and other dangerous situations.
