British-Chinese cultural mix may explain BC’s fondness for Halloween fireworks

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Vancouver historian and artist Michael Kluckner remembers saving his money as a child for three things: rides at the Pacific National Exposition, Christmas gifts and Halloween firecrackers.

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Kluckner said he would visit Chinatown grocery stores with his brother to stock up on fireworks in October, in a tradition particular to British Columbia.

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“Us kids would dress up a little bit and go door to door and trick-or-treat and do it as fast as we could and come back and then we’d get the firecrackers out and start setting them off. We managed not to lose an eye or get blown up,” laughs Kluckner.

“There were some real idiots who would throw firecrackers at each other, but mostly we would throw them out on the street or in the garden and see how much dirt we could move.”

Fireworks have long been a part of Halloween in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland and historians suggest the tradition may involve a combination of English and Chinese heritage.

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While they remain a noisy Halloween accessory in many communities, they are now often subject to regulation. The city of Vancouver, for example, prohibits its use by the public.

Kluckner, who grew up in Vancouver’s Kerrisdale neighborhood in the 1950s, said it wasn’t until much later that he realized fireworks weren’t a universal Halloween tradition.

“I remember calling, trying to find someone who knew of another place where this happened and just couldn’t find anything,” said Kluckner, who is also the author of several books on Vancouver history.

Sabina Magliocco, a folklorist and professor of sociological anthropology at the University of British Columbia, said Halloween has been a time of mischief and vandalism across Canada.

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But Magliocco traces BC’s fondness for fireworks back to Britain’s Nov. 5 celebration of Guy Fawkes Night, also known as fireworks night.

“Here in British Columbia, we had a lot of immigrants who came specifically from England,” Magliocco said.

Guy Fawkes Night marks the anniversary of the discovery of a plot to blow up Parliament House in London in 1605. Fawkes was pinned under the parliament building with powder kegs and later executed.

Now Guy Fawkes Night is mainly celebrated in the UK by lighting bonfires and fireworks.

“This (tradition) came to British Columbia with settlers from England. Now remember that Halloween night is actually not that far from November 5th,” said Magliocco.

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“In fact, in the past, from the end of October to the first days of November, he was ripe for different kinds of mischief.”

She said the British tradition “mingled” with North American Halloween culture, giving the West Coast a unique Halloween experience.

“So it’s because of the history of immigration here in BC that we have this maintenance of very English traditions,” Magliocco said.

Kluckner agreed with the theory that English settlers brought the Guy Fawkes Night fireworks tradition here, but there is also a crossover with Chinese cultures.

Chinese Canadian immigrants introduced fireworks to other British Columbians, thanks to their use in Lunar New Year parades and other celebrations, he said.

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“As for the availability of firecrackers, I think enterprising Chinese-Canadian merchants brought them in around that time and it took off from there,” he said.

“If you think about Vancouver 100 years ago, Chinese immigrants were mostly in Chinatown, but they’re a bit spread out. In the big West End houses they have Chinese cooks and servants.

“They would give the servants a day or a couple of days off on Chinese New Year and they would go down to Chinatown and there would be all the fireworks and parades and firecrackers (which) reached the wider community.”

For decades, the province’s fire departments have warned of the dangers of fireworks, including serious injury or starting a fire.

Numerous communities have banned their use entirely, restricted them to Halloween night, or allowed only technicians to purchase permits.

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Here is a list of how some BC municipalities treat fireworks:

Vancouver

The sale and use of fireworks by the general public is no longer allowed in Vancouver, the city said. While fireworks can continue at community events like Diwali, they can only be launched by a certified fireworks technician.

District of West Vancouver and North Vancouver

Halloween fireworks require a permit, which costs $5, and fireworks can only be lit on the night of October 31.

Coquitlam

It is illegal to sell, buy or use firecrackers in Coquitlam. Lighting fireworks is also prohibited unless the user has a permit from the Coquitlam Fire Department.

Puerto Coquitlam

The sale of fireworks is prohibited. They can be activated under certain conditions, including when obtaining a permit for an event.

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Delta

It is illegal to sell, buy, or process fireworks in the city unless you have a permit from the Delta Fire Department. It takes at least 10 days to process the permit.

richmond

Fireworks are illegal in Richmond and people cannot possess, sell or light them without a permit, requiring a two-week processing time.

Burnaby

The city allows low-risk fireworks to be set off on private property on October 31 with the consent of the property owner. Launching fireworks on public property can only be done as part of a special event and requires a permit from the fire marshal.

surrey

The sale and use of fireworks are prohibited in the city, except with a permit from its fire department. Permits are usually held by certified fireworks technicians who have undergone specialized training, and issuance of such a permit is rare.

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New Westminster

Low-risk fireworks can only be launched on private property on October 31 from 4 p.m. until November 1 at 00:01 a.m.

Launching fireworks on public property requires written permission from the city’s Director of Fire and Rescue Services.

Kamloops

Fireworks will not be allowed this year due to drought conditions.

chilliwack

Possession and discharge of consumer fireworks and firecrackers is prohibited at all times.

Langley Township

Permits are required for the sale, possession or transportation of fireworks and applicants need proof of a valid fireworks supervisor certificate issued by Natural Resources Canada, a business license and a $1,500 permit fee for sales.

Kelowna

Fireworks are illegal without a permit. Permits can only be obtained by licensed professionals. Residents can be fined up to $500 per incident for illegal use.

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prince george

The city charges $23 for a single fireworks event and asks a series of questions, including what safety precautions the person will take during use, that they are only used on private property, and that an extinguishing agent is available.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of Meta and the Canadian Press News Fellowship.

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