You're lucky if you're spending the lunar New Year where firecrackers are allowed. Without them, there is no feeling or mood for the celebration. So eeriliy quiet (or peaceful as some might say). It is banned in Malaysia too, but outside the cities, if you let off firecrackers, the cops won't bother. Constant firecracker sounds are iconic of lunar new year the world over where Chinese communities exist, except here in Singapore. There were valid reasons for enacting the law to disallow them back in the early 70s, but things have changed, and it was never reconsidered. The kids here today have no idea what it was like to wake up on the morning of the first day to see a sea of red covering the streets, the smell of gunpowder in the air, the delight and glee of boys lighting up and tossing the little crackers and running in the street playing with them. Its just not the same. Now, the occasion has been reduced to just pigging out and gambling. Two noxious activities to mark the celebration.
Cheers!
firecracker isn't ban.. it is being enjoyed all over the world..even in Bangkok.