Council and democracy

Celebrate Chinese New Year Safely

January 29, 2006 is the first day of the Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year starts with the new moon on the first day of the New Year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the New Year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.

The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to "catch up" with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-year cycle). This is the same as adding an extra day on leap year. This is why, according to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year.

"THINK before you light!” is the message from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service to everyone taking part in celebrations using fireworks.Make sure that celebrations mean fun in safety, not reckless danger or dreadful injuries. Particular care is needed where young children are concerned.

anyone buying fireworks for private displays - such as those held in back gardens, or at the workplace - should always rigorously follow the Fireworks Code. Anyone igniting fireworks, or supervising bonfires, should never mix their responsibility with drinking alcohol – a potentially lethal cocktail that can lead to a needless accident.

Other reminders of Firework safety are:

• Remember: The age limit for buying fireworks is 18. ALL bangers are illegal for general sale.
• Don’t buy fireworks if they are not marked as meeting BS 7114, they could be illegal imports.
• Don’t attempt to use professional high-power fireworks, such as those used in organised displays. To the untrained, they are as lethal as hand grenades.
• Keep fireworks in a closed metal box, take them out one at a time and put the top back on straight away.
• Follow the instructions on each firework carefully - read them by torchlight and never by naked flame a bucket of soft earth to stick fireworks in and ensure suitable supports for catherine wheels and sturdy, stable launchers for any rockets.
• Light the end of the firework’s fuse at arm’s length, preferably with a safety firework lighter or fuse wick
• Never throw fireworks and don’t let off fireworks in a street or public place - It’s not only dangerous, it’s also an offence.
• Stand well back and never return to a firework once lit - it may go off in your face. Use tongs or gloves to collect spent fireworks after the display.
• Never put fireworks in your pocket Keep pets indoors – they don’t like firework displays!
• Never fool with fireworks!

Further advice can be obtained from any local fire station, or on the FireNet International website

Celebrate your New Year safely. USE the Fireworks Code

This file contains The Fireworks Code in simplified Chinese