fireworks

My tutor informed me that today is officially the last day of Chinese New Year. At first I thought the fireworks might end on New Year's Day. Nope. Then came the lantern festival, which I thougth was the last day to celebrate the New Year. Nope. It's today.
What does this mean? Another occasion for fireworks. They're going off from every direction right now, like they do almost everday, only a little more so today. I don't typically enjoy them because they're loud and they shake stuff in my house, and folks tend to set them off without warming you first, like today when I was walking down the sidewalk and this dude just lights this strip of them right by my passing feet. It's crazy.
But, when I left for vacation...I was flying out of Beijing on New Year's Eve and that was the 2nd best fireworks show of my life. We've in a plane so we've above them, and we're above Beijing, so as far as the eye can see in every direction there are fireworks of all colors. And, we were far enough above them that there wasn't all the annoying loudness. If I could enjoy these that are going off now from a plane I might like them too.
At least today is the "last day." That is, until another wedding, building construction, holiday, or any other event that merits the driving away of evil spirits.