Many Czech cities to continue with New Year's fireworks celebrations

The aftermath of the tragic shooting at the Faculty of Arts in Prague has sparked a varied response among Czech municipalities regarding the cancellation of New Year's Day fireworks.

While some municipalities have heeded Interior Minister Vít Rakušan's call to limit or cancel their fireworks celebrations, citing the recent traumatic events, others are standing firm, asserting the symbolic importance of the celebrations and resisting what they perceive as undue influence on their traditions.

Rakušan's plea on Wednesday to curtail fireworks on New Year's Eve resonated with several towns, such as Jindřichův Hradec and Strakonice in South Bohemia, which promptly announced the cancellation of their planned displays.

However, neighboring Protivín has chosen to proceed with its annual fireworks celebration, emphasizing solidarity and rejecting any concession to those seeking public attention through violence.

"We have decided not to cancel the fireworks," Protivín Mayor Jaromír Hlaváč told Czech News Agency. "We have prepared it as a fireworks display of good and a symbol of solidarity between people. We are not going to give in to [the Prague shooter], we are not going to [cancel the fireworks to] give them space for publicity."

In a number of locations in Central Bohemia, including major towns like Kladno and Kolín, the decision has been made to go ahead with the planned celebrations, reflecting a determination not to let tragic events overshadow the spirit of unity and joy that fireworks represent.

The Plzeň Region in west Bohemia is following suit, with municipalities including Plzeň, Klatovy, and Domažlice confirming that their fireworks will proceed as scheduled. Plzeň Mayor David Procházka expressed skepticism about Minister Rakušan's appeal, viewing it as a populist statement that unfairly places officials in a difficult position.

In contrast, some towns in east Bohemia, such as Hradec Králové and Pardubice, had already canceled their fireworks before Rakušan's request. The sentiment is echoed in other parts of the country, where towns like Náchod and Ústí nad Orlicí have opted for cancellations, while Trutnov, Chrudim, and Svitavy stand firm on their celebration plans.

Varied responses are seen throughout the Ústí nad Labem Region, with Ústí nad Labem, Most, and Litvínov confirming their fireworks will proceed as planned. Similarly, in north Moravia, Přerov is set to host New Year's fireworks, but Karviná has chosen to cancel the event.

Reactions are also mixed in South Moravia; Uherský Brod has cancelled its fireworks, while Kroměříž and Vsetín are gearing up for their celebrations as planned.

Vsetín Mayor Jiří Čunek emphasized the resilience of communities in moving forward and cautioned against succumbing to potential political calculations, echoing a sentiment shared by many towns as they navigate the delicate balance between tradition in the face of recent tragedies.