All about fireworks in Iceland: Are they worth the price?

The Land of Fire and Ice evinces nature and diversity in the finest form. From frozen lakes to natural geothermal springs, Iceland is a dream destination for tourists all around the world. On land, it has geothermal springs, volcanic eruptions, ice caves, and black beaches. On the other, the sky has Aurora Borealis, commonly referred to as northern lights, which is a spectacular “dancing lights” show.

However, that’s not all it has to offer. As the new year approaches, Christmas celebrations come to a halt and new year resolutions and preparations begin. The people of Iceland have taken it upon themselves to make the most out of New Year’s Eve because they’re not used to seeing the ordinary anyway.

So, what happens on New Year's Eve?

Well, besides the family gatherings and partying, the Icelandic fireworks are a sight for sore eyes. Having experienced them myself, I am pretty convinced that Icelanders take it up a notch when it comes to celebrating New Year’s Eve in style. The fireworks start around 20:00 and continue to happen until midnight. So, if you’re in Iceland on New Year's Eve, you will get reminders to leave your house and go to a location where you can see a different version of the Northern Lights. What surprises me the most is that fireworks are otherwise illegal in Iceland, but on this night, it feels like the other way around.

This has a lot to do with ICE-SAR – the Icelandic Search and Rescue teams because all purchases of the fireworks serve as donations to them. Where there is beauty all over Iceland, the extreme weather carries a high amount of risk for people who are visiting. Even natives can sometimes find themselves stuck in the whirlpool of nature. Each year, the Search and Rescue teams get over a thousand emergency calls, and this number will only rise because of increased tourism in the country. That’s where the ICE-SAR teams jump to the rescue!

To me, the fireworks in Iceland are not just a celebration of the New Year. They are symbolic of all the lives ICE-SAR has been saving and will continue to do so with support from a tight-knit community. Icelanders buy more than 500 tons of fireworks that go off on New Year's eve. So, expect an amazing display of the nation’s passion, preparation, and morale for the new year. Moreover, the fireworks display has nothing to do with officials or the city sponsoring the event. It is purely the people’s excitement for the new year and support for ICE-SAR.

Are fireworks the only way to celebrate?

If you care about the environment, it should not come as a surprise that while fireworks represent unity and commitment, they do so at a price. This includes noise pollution and a smoke cloud being built up because of the non-stop explosions in the sky. As a student, while I did enjoy the fireworks on New Year’s night, I had a pretty hard time going to sleep even the next night because people still had some fireworks left (and I had to make it to an early class).

Granted, fireworks can symbolize many things, but the one thing they do for certain is pollute the environment. If the goal is to applaud ICE-SAR’s efforts, it can be done in more sustainable ways. During the years 2010 - 2022, a total of 248 people sought medical help due to fireworks-related injuries. According to a study in the Icelandic Medical Journal, 39% of those injuries were caused by faulty fireworks. The study further deduced that 22 Icelanders were admitted to Landspítali.  Make no mistake that all we’re talking about is 1 night when the fireworks are actually legal to set off, which makes it an even bigger issue than it seems. 

The alternative is ironically simple - make no exceptions for one night. If fireworks are illegal in the country, then don’t bend the laws for a mere celebration. Not to mention there will be less accidents and pollution. With each passing year, as a firework is set off in the sky, we blow our chances of having a greener, safer environment for the Icelandic community. 

Not only do fireworks contaminate the environment, but they also have a huge impact on people with respiratory illnesses and war-related trauma. If representing freedom is the goal, maybe it's time we change the narrative.

As for ICE-SAR, there are plenty of other ways to raise donations - light shows, music festivals, organized displays with trained professionals, planting trees, and much more. The mission is to celebrate freedom, not compromise it in the long run!