Should we continue to follow the tradition of bonfires and fireworks for celebration?

Or are these frivolous acts unnecessary, and do they cause harm to some of the other members of our society, such as wildlife and young children and the elderly?

Whilst, yes, fireworks can be mesmerising, the sudden flash of colour and light that fills the skies when November comes around can bring smiles to our faces, are we considering what this does to our environment and to the fragile members of the community?

These acts we perform for days on end, that are solely for entertainment, affect others more than we think.

Over 50% of dogs are frightened by fireworks, it causes them severe anxiety and restlessness.

It has been reported several times, and confirmed by the BBC, that horses react the worst to fireworks.

Since November 2010 to March 2024, over 100 horses have been killed or injured due to incidents involving fireworks, the sound of their explosion and the blinding flash of colour triggers them, so as they are trying to escape this stressful situation, they may injure themselves trying to jump a fence, or occasionally hurt a human attempting to calm them down.

As I am writing this, in the distance I hear the bang of these infamous things called fireworks, and I must say it can be quite distracting.

I cannot imagine what it is like for families with young children; continuous eruptions of sound impeding your child to fall asleep.

Despite all of this, fireworks have a deep historical tradition behind them, this history is the reason so many people and places use fireworks in November.

The 5th of November, Guy Fawkes’ Night.

On this day in 1605, there was a failed attempt to blow up the House of Parliament performed by a group of Catholic conspirators.

This event was known as the Gunpowder plot, and to this day, 400 years later, society uses fireworks, and bonfires to represent the explosion that could have happened.

Fireworks are beautiful, majestic, and incredibly symbolic to the UK; however, they are also a disturbance, frightening to pets, and can be dangerous.

Are the three minutes of a glittered-filled sky, bursting with colours, worth the pain animals go through?

Does the joy and tradition of humans supersede the agony of their pets?