The History of Fireworks

Although they can be used to celebrate everything from New Year’s Day to home runs in baseball, when we think of fireworks in the United States, we mostly think of the 4th of July celebrations. This week across the country people will be setting off sparkling, popping, exploding, streaking fireworks of all shapes and sizes, in one of our time-honored annual traditions of combining alcohol and explosives. The 4th of July is fun for the whole family drunk or sober, celebrating the birth of our country with fantastic pyrotechnics.

The history of fireworks starts in China with the invention of black powder about 2,000 years ago. Legend has it that it was the accidental mixture of charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter (potassium nitrate) by a cook that led to the discovery. Very soon the military uses of black powder became apparent and it was used in rocket arrows and other explosives in combat. Black powder also soon became used in entertainment with the invention of fireworks as different chemicals were mixed with the powder for various colored or sparkling effects.

Fireworks were created using black powder as a base mixed with other chemicals that burn different colors or create spark effects when ignited. These mixtures are often called pyrotechnic stars. These mixtures are packed tightly in paper tubes and set off with timed fuses. Complex series of paper and cardboard tubes separate different sections in the firework, and precisely cut fuses and other methods allow for exact timing to ignite the sections with the correct timings, so the rocket whizzes into the air for a few seconds before the pyrotechnic stars are ignited and the colorful explosions and sparks are released.

An aerial shell, the most common kind of firework, uses a solid propellant rocket, (again originally created using gunpowder) to shoot into the air where the timed fuses will light the pyrotechnic stars. Modern fireworks can use other kinds of solid propellants and many different chemicals.

The invention of the firecracker, part of the popular fireworks package, was said to have taken place about 1,000 years ago by a monk named Li Tian. Firecrackers were thought to scare off evil spirits with the loud noises they make, and so they began to be used in religious celebrations. Today they are used in all sorts of celebrations from births to weddings to new years celebrations in China.

According to history, Marco Polo is given credit for bringing fireworks to the West in his travels to China in the 13th Century. And of course, the military uses of gunpowder came with them. The Italians were the first Europeans to use black powder to create fireworks for entertainment, as well as for military explosives.

Today fireworks are a popular celebration tool around the world, and of course, on July 4th in the United States, they have been used to commemorate the birth of our country since the very beginning beginning, and many large popular fireworks displays are held around the country every year to mark the celebration.

Fireworks Safety

It is important to remember that fireworks are an explosive, and they require adult supervision and a clear head. I know that children often play with fireworks and it is easy to forget with their colorful lights and wrappers, and small size, that they do explode and they are dangerous. I speak from experience when saying make sure to supervise your kids carefully with fireworks. A childhood accident with firecrackers left me with hearing loss and permanent nerve damage, and that is by no means the worst of the accidents you hear involving fireworks every year. They can be a lot of fun to enjoy, and help us to celebrate happy events, but be careful out there.

So, enjoy celebrating the history of our country and learning about the history of fireworks as well. Happy 4th of July!

by Michael on July 2nd, 2007