{"id":484899,"date":"2026-01-01T14:32:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T14:32:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/484899\/"},"modified":"2026-01-01T14:32:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T14:32:19","slug":"ditching-noisy-fireworks-at-new-year-athens-and-nicosia-embrace-tech-with-drone-shows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/484899\/","title":{"rendered":"Ditching noisy fireworks at New Year, Athens and Nicosia embrace tech with drone shows"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>ATHENS, Greece (AP) \u2014 Greece and Cyprus are starting 2026 by turning down the volume.<\/p>\n<p>The countries\u2019 capital cities, Athens and Nicosia, have traded the familiar whizz, crackle and boom of window\u2011rattling fireworks for spectacle without the shock wave, opting for low\u2011noise pyrotechnics, light shows and drone displays.<\/p>\n<p>The shift aims to make New Year celebrations more child\u2011 and pet\u2011friendly \u2014 especially for animals with more sensitive hearing \u2014 in a break from the loud, combustible traditions of the past.<\/p>\n<p>A shift toward calm<\/p>\n<p>Athens embraced \u201cquiet\u201d fireworks last year, a decision Mayor Haris Doukas says signals a change in priorities.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis marks a new era in New Year celebrations,\u201d he said. \u201cA spectacular show of light, without deafening noise \u2014 respecting people, animals and the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-500000\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Fireworks burst over the capital Nicosia during the New Year's celebrations in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo\/Petros Karadjias)\"  fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767277938_744_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Fireworks burst over the capital Nicosia during the New Year\u2019s celebrations in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo\/Petros Karadjias)<\/p>\n<p>Fireworks burst over the capital Nicosia during the New Year\u2019s celebrations in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo\/Petros Karadjias)<\/p>\n<p>                Add AP News on Google <\/p>\n<p>        Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.<\/p>\n<p>            Share<\/p>\n<p>                            Read More<\/p>\n<p>Nicosia has gone further, abandoning conventional fireworks altogether after assessing their toll. Event planners and municipal officials say fireworks can cause distress to elderly residents, infants, people with autism and those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis decision forms part of the municipality\u2019s broader effort to modernize public celebrations and align them with European trends and sustainability objectives,\u201d the municipality said.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Quiet\u2019 fireworks highlight landmarks<\/p>\n<p>Low-noise fireworks still rely on black powder as a propellant to launch and disperse the \u201cstars\u201d or pellets that create colors and visual effects. But they use smaller charges and avoid the explosive bursts that generate the loud cracks typical of traditional displays.<\/p>\n<p>These quieter pyrotechnics are not new and are often incorporated into larger shows, including effects mounted on landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower or the London Eye.<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-470000\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Fireworks burst over the capital Nicosia during the New Year's celebrations in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo\/Petros Karadjias)\"  fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767277939_568_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Fireworks burst over the capital Nicosia during the New Year\u2019s celebrations in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo\/Petros Karadjias)<\/p>\n<p>Fireworks burst over the capital Nicosia during the New Year\u2019s celebrations in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo\/Petros Karadjias)<\/p>\n<p>                Add AP News on Google <\/p>\n<p>        Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.<\/p>\n<p>            Share<\/p>\n<p>                            Read More<\/p>\n<p>Cris Matthews, founder of Quietworks, a U.K.-based firm specializing in low-impact firework displays, said using quieter options often requires additional planning and creativity, and are ideal for more intimate celebrations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe argument for low noise or quiet fireworks becomes a lot more relevant as the shows get smaller,\u201d he said. \u201cFor displays such as weddings and private parties, lower-noise firework options can offer many more benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Old habits and new tech<\/p>\n<p>The private \u2014 and often deafening \u2014 use of fireworks remains common in Greece and Cyprus for occasions such as Orthodox Easter. In some rural areas, gun-owning traditions still lead to celebratory gunfire. Both practices have resulted in injuries.<\/p>\n<p>Most municipalities in greater Athens this year are sticking with fireworks that include loud bangs. But New Year celebrations in the city center, framed by the ancient Acropolis, are focused on visual splendor, incorporating lights and drones as high-tech options become more sophisticated and affordable.<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-910000\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Fireworks burst over the Greek capital during New Year celebrations in Athens, Greece, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo\/Yorgos Karahalis)\"  fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"367\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767277939_10_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Fireworks burst over the Greek capital during New Year celebrations in Athens, Greece, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo\/Yorgos Karahalis)<\/p>\n<p>Fireworks burst over the Greek capital during New Year celebrations in Athens, Greece, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo\/Yorgos Karahalis)<\/p>\n<p>                Add AP News on Google <\/p>\n<p>        Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.<\/p>\n<p>            Share<\/p>\n<p>                            Read More<\/p>\n<p>In Nicosia, drones have now \u201ceffectively replaced\u201d fireworks at municipal events, delivering \u201chigh levels of creativity,\u201d the municipality said. Unlike fireworks, drone displays generate minimal noise, produce no chemical emissions or debris, and pose no fire risk.<\/p>\n<p>The timing is deliberate. Cyprus assumes the European Union\u2019s rotating presidency on Jan. 1, and the capital plans to use drone displays to showcase Cypriot and EU symbolism throughout the year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Municipality\u2019s overarching objective is to set an example by prioritizing safer, greener, and more sustainable alternatives,\u201d it said, \u201cand by definitively moving away from traditional fireworks in municipal events wherever possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>___<\/p>\n<p>Hadjicostis reported from Nicosia. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ATHENS, Greece (AP) \u2014 Greece and Cyprus are starting 2026 by turning down the volume. The countries\u2019 capital&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":484900,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[42339,5539,71965,10109,10106,219304,56349,219305,5755,171,8697,24918,219303,6604,1165,50,62152,7926,2128,881,103],"class_list":{"0":"post-484899","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"tag-animal-rights","9":"tag-athens","10":"tag-childrens-entertainment","11":"tag-climate","12":"tag-climate-and-environment","13":"tag-cris-matthews","14":"tag-cyprus","15":"tag-cyprus-government","16":"tag-drones","17":"tag-entertainment","18":"tag-european-union","19":"tag-greece","20":"tag-greece-government","21":"tag-international-news","22":"tag-lifestyle","23":"tag-news","24":"tag-nicosia","25":"tag-pets","26":"tag-pollution","27":"tag-public-health","28":"tag-world"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115820334198519820","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/484899","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=484899"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/484899\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/484900"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=484899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=484899"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=484899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}