The majority of Finland's largest cities will not organise traditional fireworks on New Year's Eve.
Local news conglomerate Uutissuomalainen asked 20 Finnish cities, of which only seven said they would organise official firework displays.
Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Tampere and Oulu, among other cities, will not be hosting official firework demonstrations. Kuopio, Lahti, Pori, Kouvola, Hämeenlinna, Vaasa, Porvoo and Salo also replied saying that they will not host official displays.
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Cities said that the reasons to snuff the flame included environmental justifications, avoiding noise or cost savings. Last year, Helsinki's fireworks were cancelled due to windy conditions.
This year Helsinki will be ringing in 2024 with a performance by Käärijä in Citizens' Square with an accompanying pyrotechnic display.
“We have been actively seeking an impressive alternative to fireworks to crown the turn of the year at Helsinki’s New Year celebrations. This year we will try a pyrotechnic display, which is more ecological and less dependent on weather than fireworks”, said Stuba Nikula, CEO of Helsinki Events Foundation, the organiser of Helsinki’s New Year celebration.
On the other hand, fireworks will still be held in Turku, Jyväskylä, Joensuu, Lappeenranta, Seinäjoki, Rovaniemi and Mikkeli.
Additionally, the Helsinki Rescue Department announced that setting off fireworks will be banned in 17 different areas of Helsinki between 31 December and 1 January from 6pm to 2am. During this time, it is legal to launch fireworks in Finland, depending on local guidelines.
Fireworks can only be legally used in Finland on the night between New Years' Eve and Day, unless local authorities have been alerted ahead of time.
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