History of Fireworks

The history of fireworks is as colorful as the flashes of light that they emit. This article will deal with the history of fireworks, from its discovery to its modern uses.

China is recognized as the birthplace of fireworks. However, the exact date of its invention, as well as the discovery of gunpowder (an important element used in fireworks) is greatly debated by historians.

Some say that it goes as far back as 2000 years ago, while others peg it at a much later time during the Middle Ages.

The Chinese mainly used fireworks for entertainment purposes. Those considered as the first firecrackers were bamboo tubes filled with gunpowder which were then thrown into the flame.

The loud noise that these firecrackers, and other subsequent fireworks, emitted was believed to drive away evil spirits. That is why the Chinese usually use them to usher in a new year.

Use of fireworks eventually spread westward, initially to the Middle East then later on to Europe. The first recorded use of fireworks in Europe was sometime during the 13th century.

While the Chinese used fireworks for entertainment, the Europeans used it for military purposes. It was at this time when guns were invented.

The Europeans, too, spearheaded the development of fireworks. They studied it closely and even had schools built specifically for that purpose - one was in Italy while the other was in Nuremberg, Germany.

Today, fireworks continue to be a significant part of major celebrations such as the New Year. There are even international festivals dedicated to showcasing fireworks displays. Read more...

Types of Fireworks

Ever since fireworks were invented by the Chinese, there have been a multitude of varieties created by pyrotechnics experts throughout the years.

In fact, when you visit a big fireworks specialty store, you might feel like a kid left in a toy store because of all the assortments of fireworks that you may find there.

Below are some of the most common fireworks that you can usually find in the market.

1. Firecrackers

This is the earliest type of firework created by the Chinese. It is basically a fused black powder packed in a tube. When lit, it produces loud noise.
2. Sparkler

As its name suggests, fireworks of this kind create a sparkling effect when lit. They burn brightly for a long time and give off sparks of light.

3. Cake

Is a type of firework which produces different sound and visual effects.

4. Fountain

A type of firework which shoots up sparks several meters into the air.

5. Waterfalls

Are probably one of the most fantastic types of fireworks out there. They are suspended and held by a rope and when lit, produce a big wall of light that resembles a waterfall.

6. Roman candle

A smaller version of the cake, the roman candle shoots up balls of light in succession. A group of roman candles is called a battery and a fan-shaped one is called a bouquet.

7. Aerial shell

Is another popular type of firework. The shell is shot in the air and bursts mid-flight. Patterns of colors are then created. Read more...

What are Fireworks

Unless you have been living under a rock for several centuries, chances are that you know a thing or two about fireworks.

They are the ones that are lit during special occasions such as New Year. They give off bright and colorful lights which never fail to give people a sense of awe and wonder.

But aside from those things, can something more be said about fireworks? Actually, there are a lot of topics which can be discussed about them but we'll start with the most basic ones.

First of all, fireworks aim to produce three primary effects which are noise, light and smoke. It is evident in every firework although the amount of each effect varies.

Take for example a simple firecracker. It is a form of firework which produces a lot of noise and maybe smoke but only a little light is produced.

Then there are the different colors emitted by fireworks. These colors are produced by using certain compounds. A particular compound emits a certain color when exposed to a flame.

For example, red is produced by putting strontium or lithium into the firework while a gold flame can be produced by using charcoal, iron or lampblack.

Finally, there's the issue of safety.

When handled incorrectly, fireworks can cause fire and even mutilation of body parts especially in the case of more powerful varieties.

Safe practices should therefore be done when handling them such as mechanically lighting them and keeping them away from flammable materials. Read more...