Taiwan promotes firecracker CD for Lunar New Year

TAIPEI—Lunar New Year revellers in Taiwan’s capital Taipei are to be given free CDs featuring the sound of exploding firecrackers, in the hope of reducing the deafening noise and mess created by the real thing.

“Lighting firecrackers will not only cause noise and air pollution but used firecrackers will make the environment dirty. We urge people to refrain from doing it,” said the Taipei city government, which is behind the proposal.

Setting off firecrackers is an age-old Chinese custom based on the ancient belief that the sound scares off evil spirits to ensure a safe new year.

The practice is illegal in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, where only government-organized firework displays are permitted, but the rules — mostly imposed for reasons of public safety — are not always observed.

Lunar New Year starts January 22 this year, ushering in the Year of the Dragon.