bottle rockets

The air became thick with white smoke as people burned out their tires while stuck in traffic or fired off bottle rockets from the back of trucks.

Thousands of people gathered to dance and dodge amid the bulls as roman candles and bottle rockets showered them with sparks, and spinners nipped at their legs.

Firing bottle rockets and other fireworks is a traditional way of welcoming the new year and seeing off any lingering bad memories.

Pyrotechnic displays have long been an integral part of France’s national holiday, but angry crowds in recent weeks have used bottle rockets and other fireworks in clashes with police in cities across the country.

Many were official Independence Day shows held by cities, while others were informal firecrackers and bottle rockets set off in neighborhoods.