Fireworks are a Halloween tradition in B.C., but many cities regulate them

While some cities permit fireworks on Halloween night, many municipalities across the province have banned their use, including Vancouver, Kelowna, Coquitlam, Kamloops and Surrey.

On Halloween, many residents in British Columbia bring out the fireworks.

Experts say the practice likely emerged from a combination of the British tradition of Guy Fawkes Night, and the use of pyrotechnics on various Chinese festivals.

Sabina Magliocco, a folklorist and an anthropology professor at the University of British Columbia, says the tradition could be traced back to Guy Fawkes Night, which was brought to the province by immigrants from England.

Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Fireworks Night, marks the anniversary of the discovery of a plot to blow up the House of Parliament in London in 1605.

Magliocco says the British tradition likely got mashed up with North American Halloween mischief culture, granting the West Coast a unique Halloween experience.

Vancouver artist and historian Michael Kulckner says a century ago, Chinese Canadian merchants would celebrate Lunar New Year with firecrackers and parades, and they brought those traditions to the wider community.

While some cities permit fireworks on Halloween night, many municipalities across the province have banned their use, including Vancouver, Kelowna, Coquitlam, Kamloops and Surrey.

Here is a list of how some B.C. municipalities deal with fireworks: