The lead-up to New Year’s Eve in Berlin begins days in advance, with explosions rising in frequency throughout the day until midnight, when the city erupts into a largely unsynchronized fireworks display in all directions, marked by intensity, unpredictability, and a sense of near-lawless celebration. Although fireworks are legally restricted in Germany — permitted to be sold and used only on specific days before New Year’s Eve under strict regulations — these rules are widely ignored. Powerful fireworks and improvised pyrotechnics are often smuggled in from neighboring countries where they are more easily available. Each year, hundreds of accidents are reported, along with dozens of car and building fires caused by fireworks.