Hey, I also miss how we celebrate in the Philippines,
starting from december, we are already throwing alot of fire crackers in the street to welcome both Christmas and New Year.
While the new years come is nearer, you will see and hear frequent lighting of fireworks and firecrackers. And it becomes louder and louder. We even have the local fireworks contest because our town is the fireworks capital. As you will also see in the News Paper while the new year becomes closer - more people has reports on firecrackers accident. Around 300 people are injured during this celebration every year from big firecrackers. Because everyone makes their own, to make it bigger or sound louder and with better artistic sequence on fireworks display.
In our town, almost everyone knows how to make a small firecracker ... it was a great experience and luckily is didnt have any major accident on firecrackers.