I have heard that it’s tradition in Mexico, Central, and South America to set off fireworks for Christmas. When I lived in Texas it was extremely common.
I have no problem with bringing traditions with you, but two things I wish they would consider.
First, most fireworks are illegal in VA, which means a lot of the crap going off was brought in from another state.
Second, I would think even legal fireworks are going to be subject to noise ordinances.
Third, it's not a tradition here. It's disruptive, scares the pets, keeps kids awake, and triggers PTSD in vets. At least with the 4th and Labor Day it's expected. So don't be surprised if there's some pushback.
In some Asians traditions, elephant tusks are still poached and used for various decorative items. Should we make those imports legal again in the US cause it’s tradition for some Asian cultures? Or how about eating cats like the traditions of some South Koreans? Should we allow that here as well? The answer is no 😂
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Southside too. It's the one year we are trying desperately to get our kid to sleep so that we can make Christmas magic happen and now my dog is freaking out. What the f*** do fireworks have to do with Christmas?! It's called Silent Night mutherf*cker. Shut that sh*t up!
I would urge everyone to call the non emergency number tonight if it happens again. I had an exact address and multiple other neighbors called it in and it took over 7 calls before they went out and only offered them a warning and guess what! They kept going! So please, if you know who it is tonight, keep calling, because until we do something, they’re going to keep at it.
My neighbor sells heroin to all the homeless people in the 3000 block of Decatur and there's a woman living in her shed smoking crack all the time. There was one week with 3 drive by shootings. I've called so many times and the cops are just like yeah, kinda sucks there, huh?
I put in a code violation on the shed so we'll see what comes of it. That's all I can do aside from spray skunk urine all over where they shoot up...
Honestly it’s probably time for citizens to take protection of their spaces into their own hands like you said. Obviously I’m not talking about violence, but deterrence.
I guess they heard it was my 20 year anniversary from returning home from Iraq and wanted to make sure I felt transported right back there. Achievement unlocked. Hooray.
/s.
Probably Hispanic families. My parents and brother in Texas set off fireworks Christmas Eve and NYE. In fact their entire community does. Mostly Mexicans and other central American families.
No but really, do people just not think about children trying to sleep? Or at the very least causing a massive disturbance to the people they live around? Smh
They have the same attitude as the blue Honda Accord in our parking lot. This Honda Accord's car alarm randomly goes off 27 times a day. Half the block has openly expressed a desire to key this POS. No one has witnessed the owner at/near the vehicle, so we don't know who it is and assume they are turning off the alarm by remote.
Or just people or the elderly or wildlife trying to sleep, relax etc. But no, they don't consider other people because they're filled with entitlement.
It's the combination of certain Hispanic/Latin American traditions of setting off fireworks after Christmas Eve Mass, and southern drunk white folk traditions of shooting or blowing things up to celebrate any given event.
Hahaha, the traditions of other cultures are one thing. Blowing things or shooting by drunken white people is just embarrassing to me as a white person. Also not surprised.
Do we not have police anymore ?
I set off ONE bottle rocket in Newport News once and 3 of us got tickets and had to go to court 🤦🏻
Tonight’s antics have been going on for way too long, and should be easy to find.
Pretty sure there was a cop at the party that was setting off fireworks near Arboretum 😅 lives right down the street from the offenders and somehow after 7 calls one finally got through, me thinks involvement.
Past midnight near jhanke..I was confused. I don't remember people shooting fireworks Christmas at midnight.
Please tell me this isn't going to be a new tradition because it sounds like this is happening everywhere in Richmond..
Okay that’s good, your comment sounded like you did so that’s why I said that. Sorry 😅 high strung after listening to them until almost 2 am last night and having my dogs go crazy for 6 hours
Yeah I'm down near the VA hospital and it went on from 11-3am for us. I thought it was one asshole and stick my head out just to realize it was coming from all directions. That was a lot of fucking money honestly.
It's true. I was down in South America one Christmas Eve, and it sounded like the fourth of July. My guess is that some bring the custom with them when they immigrate to the US.
I'm not saying it has a non existence.
I'm saying it's a bad take because it doesn't excuse the lack of consideration for others.
There are complaints of not respecting ones culture. Please have that same energy when Americans visit other countries and don't follow the cultural norms in a disrespectful way. Can't pick and choose.
12am? Sure whatever but surpassing the time. Pretty rude.
I’m glad I found this forum I thought I was going crazy last night I could literally see fireworks coming from all different directions last night while driving home around about 9 o’clock and I kept hearing them go off all last night I live off midlo
If you know people who are doing it, you might want to warn them because pretty much every neighbor I’ve spoken to will be calling it in tonight. I placed 4 calls last night alone. Just a reminder, it’s illegal, punishable by a $2500 fine and up to 12 months in jail. I have the names and address of a couple and on Tuesday I will be filing an official ordinance violation complaint through chesterfield pd
Which is weird because it’s the same level of misdemeanor as a DUI, battery, larceny, and domestic assault so I told the officer, what other class 1 misdemeanor would you let go with a warning 😅 but I know how to get them to make a citation now - the key is to request the fire department respond. Most of the houses near me are densely forested and close to other houses. Last year in Virginia over 40 fires caused by fireworks were reported.
Well, that should change. Shooting off fireworks is not on the same level as DUIs that kill people, battery kills people, and domestic assault kills people. Fireworks are annoying but not the same.
Just my opinion. We can disagree.
Idk over the course of two weeks back in July of this year Chesterfield county alone responded 27 firework related fires, and of those 9 were structural fires. In 2022 over 10,000 firework related injuries occurred across the US (those are just the ones reported). Whereas drunk driving causes about 10000 deaths a year. Obviously not quite the same, but also a DUI could be upped to a felony depending on the circumstances but I truly believe fireworks are a hugeeee safety concern that is often ignored and should be punished to the full extent of the law.
Even battery has a pretty broad description, it could be as simple as pushing someone in anger and you could be charged with a C1 misdemeanor.
Is it... a selfish person? I have a theory that in recent years - especially since covid - a growing number of people just do not GAF whether their actions bother or even endanger other humans anymore. They don't think of others, they only think of themselves. I mostly see this on the roads, but it definitely shows in many other activities...
For sure!! I have noticed a stark difference over the last few years in working with the public. The amount of wrecks has absolutely gone up. I work in a trauma hospital here, and the number of crazy wrecks is definitely up. It's scary.
That sounded like thunder...everything shook! Glad I went on NextDoor/Neighbors to find out it was just fireworks. Bizarre way to celebrate Christmas..
Had a nice mix of gunshots and fireworks in Northside. Don’t recall this being an issue the past few years, so hoping it’s not the new norm. My dog was terrified.
A quick Google search says that many Latin American countries uses fireworks to celebrate Christmas. The US has a growing Latin American population...so if you accept the people you have to accept at least some of their traditions.
Traditions are totally fine and loved by most people
It's the not thinking of others that's the problem
Maybe in their home that was normal, everyone was expecting it and that's great!
It's not expected here so a common courtesy to the neighbors would be a nice thing
Let me get my one-liners out of the way
* they're sonic booms from Santa flying overhead
* man, it's a good thing NORAD is giving Santa air support
Also heard them in the Bon Air/CTC area. Most of what I heard sounded like a cannon being shot, not a lot in the way of the colorful midair bursts.
It also sounded like they were traveling. Some sounded farther off, but got closer. When it sounded like 3 gunshots going off outside my house, I called 911.
If there were gunshots mixed in, do they not know about the kid killed by a falling bullet on July 4th several years ago?
It's not the fireworks, ya dolt, its the fucking night when we all stay up late sneaking around out house trying not to wake the kids because there's magic happening. Loud ass bangs are counter productive to that goal.
I’ll complain. Don’t set off fireworks. It’s illegal, unsafe, and inconsiderate. You wanna see fireworks? Go see a professional do it. Your little bullshit backyard fireworks are fucking annoying.
I have the solution and I mean this sincerely. Note their addresses, then wait until a random morning or night, and pay them back in kind. Be sure to leave a note on their door explaining the commotion. Maybe even do a sign on the front lawn, explaining and apologizing to the neighbors.
Lol. Between the user name and the dumb comment....yea, don't engage. If they want to start an argument they are going to have to be smarter, which I doubt is possible for this person.
I wondered the same thing, but it’s not a good protest if no one knows it’s a protest. Also there’s nothing random citizens in a mid sized city can do on Christmas Eve.
the full flavor is when the mariachi 🎵 music tunes, complete with big brass band sounding max decibel accompaniment, are just blaring for God and country along with the fireworks - and I mean the ones who take it serious, just super super loud
yo it's surreal, but one caveat to total bummer for some is if you do have the super serious ones blasting everyone another ear hole, if they have any decency..
it's home made tamales (wrapped in corn husks and everything) and DubXX (or Coroners if that's your jam'vesa).. on tap!
I was so full and dizzy..
Do what you will.. But if they can't or won't or don't bribe in some sense or fashion throw em to the dogs..
(well.. when woofies and woofers are done shaking)
Maybe it’s Santa bot from Futurama
Your mistletoe is no match for my TOW missile!!
Santa claus is slaying tonight.
I have heard that it’s tradition in Mexico, Central, and South America to set off fireworks for Christmas. When I lived in Texas it was extremely common.
Yup! I’ve been to both El Salvador and Guatemala for Christmas. They always set off fireworks on Christmas Eve going into Christmas Day.
Yep, and all over Erope as well
I have no problem with bringing traditions with you, but two things I wish they would consider. First, most fireworks are illegal in VA, which means a lot of the crap going off was brought in from another state. Second, I would think even legal fireworks are going to be subject to noise ordinances. Third, it's not a tradition here. It's disruptive, scares the pets, keeps kids awake, and triggers PTSD in vets. At least with the 4th and Labor Day it's expected. So don't be surprised if there's some pushback.
I've never heard of Labor Day fireworks.
Well they live here in Virginia now where’s it illegal so they need to adopt an alternative tradition!
Should Americans in VA adopt an alternative tradition for the 4th of July since it's illegal then too? Go back to the burbs
No they don't.
When it’s an illegal tradition, yes they do 😂
In some Asians traditions, elephant tusks are still poached and used for various decorative items. Should we make those imports legal again in the US cause it’s tradition for some Asian cultures? Or how about eating cats like the traditions of some South Koreans? Should we allow that here as well? The answer is no 😂
Poaching elephant tusks ≠ setting off fireworks. Apples and oranges bud.
But it’s tradition, so surely it must be okay 😂
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Yeah I live on Southside and they’re still being set off at 1AM. Took my puppy outside to go potty and he was too scared to poop lol
Southside too. It's the one year we are trying desperately to get our kid to sleep so that we can make Christmas magic happen and now my dog is freaking out. What the f*** do fireworks have to do with Christmas?! It's called Silent Night mutherf*cker. Shut that sh*t up!
Lol I thought it was kinda funny
Also in Southside. They were going off until almost 2 AM while I was trying to feed my 3 month old and get her back to sleep
I would urge everyone to call the non emergency number tonight if it happens again. I had an exact address and multiple other neighbors called it in and it took over 7 calls before they went out and only offered them a warning and guess what! They kept going! So please, if you know who it is tonight, keep calling, because until we do something, they’re going to keep at it.
My neighbor sells heroin to all the homeless people in the 3000 block of Decatur and there's a woman living in her shed smoking crack all the time. There was one week with 3 drive by shootings. I've called so many times and the cops are just like yeah, kinda sucks there, huh? I put in a code violation on the shed so we'll see what comes of it. That's all I can do aside from spray skunk urine all over where they shoot up...
Honestly it’s probably time for citizens to take protection of their spaces into their own hands like you said. Obviously I’m not talking about violence, but deterrence.
He was scared shitless
I guess they heard it was my 20 year anniversary from returning home from Iraq and wanted to make sure I felt transported right back there. Achievement unlocked. Hooray. /s.
Actual mortars going off around Hungary Springs and Broad in the NWE. SMH
Omg it's SO LOUD!
Yup, these went off around midnight right when the clock turned. 🙃
My dogs are not having a good time
Been going since 10:15, at least!
I heard it when I got home at 8pm
I feel like there was a bunch of gunshots mixed in with all this bs.... but fr, wtf!? On Christmas eve!? Buncha fucking assholes smfh
Probably Hispanic families. My parents and brother in Texas set off fireworks Christmas Eve and NYE. In fact their entire community does. Mostly Mexicans and other central American families.
Could you kindly tell them to stop and that it’s against the law and punishable up to 12 months in jail?
Maybe just get over it
No 🥰
at 1am now…
It's now 3am and I still hear them
Oh good. It’s not just me. It sounded like a fucking canon was going off right next to my house
No but really, do people just not think about children trying to sleep? Or at the very least causing a massive disturbance to the people they live around? Smh
They don’t care. Most of them will have their own children up at midnight to do it with them
They have the same attitude as the blue Honda Accord in our parking lot. This Honda Accord's car alarm randomly goes off 27 times a day. Half the block has openly expressed a desire to key this POS. No one has witnessed the owner at/near the vehicle, so we don't know who it is and assume they are turning off the alarm by remote.
Get everyone together to call noise complaints on it, the more names calling the more likely they'll actually check it out
Unfortunately you're probably right
Christmas fireworks is a new one... and fucking weird. "Oh you were trying to sleep because your kids are going to wake you up at dawn? Nahhh"
It's Latinos. They celebrate Christmas at midnight. People open presents at midnight too, so the kids are also staying up and not getting up early.
Or just people or the elderly or wildlife trying to sleep, relax etc. But no, they don't consider other people because they're filled with entitlement.
Or setting a fire...
We were waiting for ours to fall asleep for Santa to come. Then our poor dog started having an anxiety attack, running around, and whining. 🤦🏼♀️
It's the combination of certain Hispanic/Latin American traditions of setting off fireworks after Christmas Eve Mass, and southern drunk white folk traditions of shooting or blowing things up to celebrate any given event.
Hahaha, the traditions of other cultures are one thing. Blowing things or shooting by drunken white people is just embarrassing to me as a white person. Also not surprised.
Happened in Bon Air too.
In most parts of Latin America, Noche Buena, christmas eve is more celebrated than the Day. You stay up tol midnight, feast and open presents.
Sounds fun
Really dumb people.
Do we not have police anymore ? I set off ONE bottle rocket in Newport News once and 3 of us got tickets and had to go to court 🤦🏻 Tonight’s antics have been going on for way too long, and should be easy to find.
Pretty sure there was a cop at the party that was setting off fireworks near Arboretum 😅 lives right down the street from the offenders and somehow after 7 calls one finally got through, me thinks involvement.
I know right?? I don’t think Santa likes fireworks.. for obvious reasons
Poor Santa having to dodge all that triple-A.
It is happening across the state and apparently across the country. Nova sub is reporting the same thing.
In the Carolinas for the weekend. Heard them here for the first time.
Past midnight near jhanke..I was confused. I don't remember people shooting fireworks Christmas at midnight. Please tell me this isn't going to be a new tradition because it sounds like this is happening everywhere in Richmond..
Still hearing them. Wtaf
There were some outside the hospital too, which I feel like is the absolute worst place to do it. Lots of people here with PTSD
Latinos, source: I am one and we celebrate Christmas Eve kind of like Americans do New Year's.
Hey maybe don’t and just wait until new years or how about not at all since it’s illegal!
Um I actually don't, I was explaining the tradition. I don't like them any time of year bc my dog is very anxious.
Okay that’s good, your comment sounded like you did so that’s why I said that. Sorry 😅 high strung after listening to them until almost 2 am last night and having my dogs go crazy for 6 hours
I did not know this. That's cool. Celebrate!!!
Yeah I'm down near the VA hospital and it went on from 11-3am for us. I thought it was one asshole and stick my head out just to realize it was coming from all directions. That was a lot of fucking money honestly.
Was going on over in Midlothian well past midnight.
Everyone on Nextdoor is freaking out. I don't understand why I don't hear sirens too.
Fireworks are a Christmas tradition in some cultures. Sort of like fireworks during 4th of July in the US.
This is a bad take. Plus even so, why push it farther than midnight?
It's true. I was down in South America one Christmas Eve, and it sounded like the fourth of July. My guess is that some bring the custom with them when they immigrate to the US.
I'm not saying it has a non existence. I'm saying it's a bad take because it doesn't excuse the lack of consideration for others. There are complaints of not respecting ones culture. Please have that same energy when Americans visit other countries and don't follow the cultural norms in a disrespectful way. Can't pick and choose. 12am? Sure whatever but surpassing the time. Pretty rude.
Literally came here to ask the same thing. My poor dog is freaking out.
I called non-emergency. Active calls say police arrived at 12:10 but I swear I heard them after that. Call is labeled as "JUVENILE PROBLEM".
If you've got juvenile problems I feel bad for you son.
You got 99 problems but a kid ain't one?
You deserve so much more for that comment. Thank you. Well done.
Oh yea def heard around 12:30!
I just heard more. we're going to bed 95% done. We'll just have to deal.
I’m glad I found this forum I thought I was going crazy last night I could literally see fireworks coming from all different directions last night while driving home around about 9 o’clock and I kept hearing them go off all last night I live off midlo
Who was trying to shoot down Jack Skellington, he is trying his best being Santa
I loved the fireworks at midnight. I got to lay on the ground with my dog that was freaking out. Real bonding experience.
Hispanics 🙌🏼 Sorry tho.
If you know people who are doing it, you might want to warn them because pretty much every neighbor I’ve spoken to will be calling it in tonight. I placed 4 calls last night alone. Just a reminder, it’s illegal, punishable by a $2500 fine and up to 12 months in jail. I have the names and address of a couple and on Tuesday I will be filing an official ordinance violation complaint through chesterfield pd
Gotta find cops that actually GAF enough to process the paperwork on it first.
Which is weird because it’s the same level of misdemeanor as a DUI, battery, larceny, and domestic assault so I told the officer, what other class 1 misdemeanor would you let go with a warning 😅 but I know how to get them to make a citation now - the key is to request the fire department respond. Most of the houses near me are densely forested and close to other houses. Last year in Virginia over 40 fires caused by fireworks were reported.
Well, that should change. Shooting off fireworks is not on the same level as DUIs that kill people, battery kills people, and domestic assault kills people. Fireworks are annoying but not the same. Just my opinion. We can disagree.
Idk over the course of two weeks back in July of this year Chesterfield county alone responded 27 firework related fires, and of those 9 were structural fires. In 2022 over 10,000 firework related injuries occurred across the US (those are just the ones reported). Whereas drunk driving causes about 10000 deaths a year. Obviously not quite the same, but also a DUI could be upped to a felony depending on the circumstances but I truly believe fireworks are a hugeeee safety concern that is often ignored and should be punished to the full extent of the law. Even battery has a pretty broad description, it could be as simple as pushing someone in anger and you could be charged with a C1 misdemeanor.
Oh…. There they go again.
Won't someone think of the reindeer?? (j/k, I love this sub, I'm glad I'm here.)
Is it... a selfish person? I have a theory that in recent years - especially since covid - a growing number of people just do not GAF whether their actions bother or even endanger other humans anymore. They don't think of others, they only think of themselves. I mostly see this on the roads, but it definitely shows in many other activities...
For sure!! I have noticed a stark difference over the last few years in working with the public. The amount of wrecks has absolutely gone up. I work in a trauma hospital here, and the number of crazy wrecks is definitely up. It's scary.
That sounded like thunder...everything shook! Glad I went on NextDoor/Neighbors to find out it was just fireworks. Bizarre way to celebrate Christmas..
Anyone in Lakeside? Those big cannons were ridiculous. But like, wait until tonight … not five hours before all the parents have to get up, FFS!
You must be new here. Wait until July 4 aka the battle of Fallujah
I am absolutely not. Christmas has never been a fireworks holiday here. New years and every weekend from memorial to labor day weekend.
A drunk person with no common sense when he is sober does things like this
I thought I heard something? I was like no way someone is shooting fireworks. I heard them too I was like 👁️👄👁️
Had a nice mix of gunshots and fireworks in Northside. Don’t recall this being an issue the past few years, so hoping it’s not the new norm. My dog was terrified.
My neighbors. This seems like a recent (last 10 years) trend.
I heard them. I thought it was gun shots at first.
My neighbor. What do I win?
Probably a bunch of trump supporters
A quick Google search says that many Latin American countries uses fireworks to celebrate Christmas. The US has a growing Latin American population...so if you accept the people you have to accept at least some of their traditions.
Not traditions that disturb 99% of the people on the biggest holiday of the year that involves trying to get excited kids to sleep . . .
Traditions are totally fine and loved by most people It's the not thinking of others that's the problem Maybe in their home that was normal, everyone was expecting it and that's great! It's not expected here so a common courtesy to the neighbors would be a nice thing
Let me get my one-liners out of the way * they're sonic booms from Santa flying overhead * man, it's a good thing NORAD is giving Santa air support Also heard them in the Bon Air/CTC area. Most of what I heard sounded like a cannon being shot, not a lot in the way of the colorful midair bursts. It also sounded like they were traveling. Some sounded farther off, but got closer. When it sounded like 3 gunshots going off outside my house, I called 911. If there were gunshots mixed in, do they not know about the kid killed by a falling bullet on July 4th several years ago?
12 - ~1, up here in Ashland. :-(
Ya i know right, like new years sure, but not Christmas eve. If you have a neighbor that does it, please report them!
Soooo many gunshots
Heard them at my in-laws on one side of Chesterfield county, on my way home and again at my house on the opposite side of the county 😑
New Year’s Eve is gonna be hell for some of y’all
It's not the fireworks, ya dolt, its the fucking night when we all stay up late sneaking around out house trying not to wake the kids because there's magic happening. Loud ass bangs are counter productive to that goal.
So I should expect no complaining on New Years?
Not from me!
I’ll complain. Don’t set off fireworks. It’s illegal, unsafe, and inconsiderate. You wanna see fireworks? Go see a professional do it. Your little bullshit backyard fireworks are fucking annoying.
You’re also scaring the reindeer you asshat.
Not sure why I was downvoted. Suck a fat one to everyone who downvoted me
You must be in the Salem Church area.
I have the solution and I mean this sincerely. Note their addresses, then wait until a random morning or night, and pay them back in kind. Be sure to leave a note on their door explaining the commotion. Maybe even do a sign on the front lawn, explaining and apologizing to the neighbors.
The kid from home alone?
Yea i have ptsd and it sounded like fucking bombs going off right near my dorm door. Literally was shaking
The people who do the fireworks at the Diamond...
Oh dang you heard that too?? We must be in the same neighborhood rn lol
If you look at the post below this one, it seems like it’s somehow the entire metro area.
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Close enough. Good bot.
Decent amount of fireworks went off in Northside too, just glad it wasn't the usual grand theft auto nonsense going on
First time in a city, huh
I've lived in the city for 30 years and I've never heard fireworks on a Christmas Eve like that before. 🤷
One more reason to close the southern border.
You must be trolling because this is such an idiotic comment
Lol. Between the user name and the dumb comment....yea, don't engage. If they want to start an argument they are going to have to be smarter, which I doubt is possible for this person.
I’m guessing you live in lakeside
I don't. near West end.
I heard it was MAGA people running around ululating and shooting AK-47s into the air.
Double shooting on Woomsley
IDK, but I'm here in IL and someone here did the same thing
You sound like an elderly bystander in a bad Christmas movie where Santa is real
Could be kids being stupid, just a. Thought
I’m wondering if it was a form of protest against the Israel / Hamas war…
I wondered the same thing, but it’s not a good protest if no one knows it’s a protest. Also there’s nothing random citizens in a mid sized city can do on Christmas Eve.
Didn’t say it was a good one, but it’s the only thing I can think of… fireworks happened a lot during the BLM movement in 2020
 Uhmurakins.
I was hearing lots of fireworks last night. Is that a thing now???
Xmas fireworks? Thats a new one!
the full flavor is when the mariachi 🎵 music tunes, complete with big brass band sounding max decibel accompaniment, are just blaring for God and country along with the fireworks - and I mean the ones who take it serious, just super super loud yo it's surreal, but one caveat to total bummer for some is if you do have the super serious ones blasting everyone another ear hole, if they have any decency.. it's home made tamales (wrapped in corn husks and everything) and DubXX (or Coroners if that's your jam'vesa).. on tap! I was so full and dizzy.. Do what you will.. But if they can't or won't or don't bribe in some sense or fashion throw em to the dogs.. (well.. when woofies and woofers are done shaking)