Most Lithuanians opposes the use of fireworks at big events, while one third think them to be an acceptable form of celebration, according to a recent poll.
The survey, commissioned by BNS and conducted by Vilmorus, found that 28.6 percent of respondents oppose the use of high-powered fireworks and other pyrotechnics at various festivals, while another 24.9 percent somewhat oppose them.
Meanwhile, 9.9 percent said they strongly support the use fireworks, while 25 percent more somewhat support them.
Around a tenth had no clear opinion.
The survey showed that younger people, especially schoolchildren and students, as well as respondents with less education and residents of smaller towns or rural areas, were more likely to support the use of pyrotechnics.
More sceptics in large cities
People living in Lithuania’s major cities were slightly more sceptical about fireworks than residents of smaller towns. In Vilnius, for example, 22 percent of the respondents favoured fireworks, while 58 percent were sceptical. In the other major cities, the split was 34 and 58.1 percent, respectively.
In smaller towns and rural areas, around 40 percent of the respondents were in favour of fireworks and 50 percent were against.
Schoolchildren and students tend to be more enthusiastic about pyrotechnics, while pensioners are the most sceptical group, especially those over the age of 70.
Noise and negative experiences
Vladas Gaidys, a sociologist and the head of Vilmorus, says that the positions of young people and pensioners stand out the most.
“In general, young people are in favour of ecology, but at the moment, noise and disturbances seem to be the most important argument. This explains why the elderly are against [fireworks] because they scare cats, while the young like them because they are both fun and good,” the sociologist said.
The lower acceptance of fireworks among people living in big cities is probably not due to big events, but to the domestic use of fireworks, for example to celebrate the New Year, and perhaps also to incidents.
“As far as we know, this is especially true in apartment blocks […]: fireworks may hit a window as well,” he said.
Gaidys believes that anti-firework attitudes are more widespread among the better educated because of environmental concerns as well as the European and global trend to abandon this noisy way of celebrating.
“Apparently, there is also a perception that it is progressive and modern [to oppose fireworks], and that they are also restricted abroad,” he said.
No support for banning fireworks
A similar survey commissioned by LRT and conducted by Baltijos Tyrimai slightly different results.
It asked whether people would agree with a proposal to ban fireworks because they increase air pollution and harm animals.
While 46 percent of the respondents agreed with the formulation, 48 percent said they disagreed with such bans.
Six percent had no opinion.
The LRT survey showed similar trends, however: men, younger people, residents of smaller towns and rural areas were less likely to support firework bans.
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