Will New Year’s Day fireworks happen in Prague after all?

An independent group now promises that there will be an organized fireworks show in Prague on New Year’s Day. Details currently are a bit sketchy, and more will be known in December, according to Milujupraha.cz.

The location and
other details of the fireworks show are being kept secret, as the
organizers do not want City Hall to know too far in advance, as it
would allow them to take action to stop it. Recent shows have been
launched from Letná Park, and they have also taken place on Vítkov
Hill and barges in the Vltava river.

“Prague citizens will not lose their traditional form of celebrating the arrival of the new year! A spectacular fireworks show will light up the sky above the Czech capital on January 1, and people will have the opportunity to greet the arrival of the jubilee new year 2020 in dignity. Further details will be declassified in early December,” Prague historian David Černý said on the Milujupraha.cz website. While he shares the same name as a famous artist, this is a different person.

The organizers of last year’s fireworks and the civic association Ohňostroj pro Praha (Fireworks for Prague) want to preserve the decades-long Prague tradition.

Martin Peter,
designer and choreographer of the last five New Year’s Day
fireworks shows in Prague, said the form of entertainment has a long
history. “Already during the time of [Emperor] Rudolph II. we were
the real European cradle of fireworks, and Prague fireworks have been
connecting people for many decades,” he said, according to
Mulujupraha.cz.

He does not want to
let fireworks disappear due to the whims of the current leadership of
Prague and the concerns of environmentalists, he added. He wanted to
try to save the annual show based on support from fans and citizens
of Prague and the Czech Republic.

Peter also claims
that everything is being done legally. “When preparing this year’s
event, we proceeded according to legal legislative options and the
only thing that can stop us is bad weather. Despite this, we are
cautious and will gladly comply with the will of the people to say
what citizens want,” he said, adding that the will of the people
will be determined by how much they contribute to the staging the
show.

The Fireworks for
Prague was started by Jan Šaršoun. “I founded a movement to
preserve our cultural traditions. … I believe that people are
interested in fireworks, so we leave the financing of the fireworks
to their will. Every citizen of Prague, Czech citizen and
organization can contribute to our transparent account any amount and
help save a part of our country’s culture.” he said.

He says the real
problem is not organized shows but the uncontrolled use of fireworks
in the street. For that reason he has also organized the Nebudu
střílet (I Will Not Shoot) campaign, intended to promote safety by
limiting amateur fireworks.

City Hall said the noise of the fireworks affected both pets and wildlife, and that an alternative would be better. “It is a helpful step not only for all citizens of the metropolis who are sensitive to excessive noise, but also for animals that face unnecessary stress every year. I believe that everyone will enjoy the new form of New Year celebrations, and I am glad that we unanimously agreed on it,” Prague City Councilor Jan Chabr (United Force for Prague) said in August when the change was announced.

It was later announced that the videomapping would take place at Wenceslas Square with shows at 6 pm, 7 pm, and 8 pm to accommodate the crowds. The overall cost will be the same as for previous fireworks shows.