New Year’s Eve fireworks and fancy dress

Fireworks were said to be invented in China and the Chinese believed that the first-ever firecracker would ward off evil spirits. This is believable as there is something quite extraordinary when watching a spectacular show of fireworks that lasts for minutes at a time. The air is filled with incredible light and sounds where evil spirits would definitely get the message they’re not wanted! The first fireworks in Europe were manufactured in Italy and European rulers were particularly fond of fireworks to “enchant their subjects and illuminate their castles on important occasions.” The New Year’s Eve firework displays in St Ives and Newquay don’t illuminate castles but they do illuminate the sea and the reflections on the water at high tide are simply beautiful.

Ever wondered why St Ives’ streets are packed with fancy dressed party revellers on New Year’s Eve? It all started with friendly rivalry between pub owners in St Ives which has grown into one of the UK’s biggest destinations to celebrate the New Year!

Many, many moons ago, in a St Ives’ pub, the landlords decided to host a fancy dress shindig. Being a huge success and as the night wore on, the cheerful (and ever-so slightly merry) crowd increased and the costume-clad locals spilt out of the pub and paraded through the town to show off their novel costumes. Other pubs saw this and decided that the following New Year they would show them who could really throw the best New Year’s party.

That following year came and several other pubs in St Ives had fancy dress themes for the night and, inevitably (or predictably) the temptation to take to the streets and show off was too much to resist. As the years went by more and more places in this fabulous coastal town started getting in on the fun and it quickly built up to become the famous celebration that we know and love today.