Who Invented Fireworks? Who Invented Fireworks? Who invented fireworks? Fireworks are said to have originated in ancient China. The popular story goes that a cook mixed together saltpeter, charcoal and sulphur. The mix started burning. The cook went a step further and placed it in a bamboo tube. It exploded and the first fireworks came to be. The invention of fireworks is linked to that of gunpowder since they are based in the same principles. Some say the invention took place some 2,000 years ago. Others place it at a later date in the 9th century of the Song Dynasty. There are those who believe gunpowder and fireworks were first discovered in India, but most agree it comes from China. In any event, the Chinese found different uses for this hot powder over the course of time. At first it was used only to play with. Then the first firecrackers appeared in about 1,000 years ago. They were made by a Chinese monk named Li Tian from Liu Yung city in Hu Nang. His memory was revered greatly by the Chinese. They celebrated April 18 to commemorate him. Today Liu Yung City is still a major firecracker producer in China.

These firecrackers were used to celebrate the Lunar Yew Year. The Chinese believed they could frighten ghosts and evil spirits with their sounds. So it was good practice to light fireworks at the start of a new year. Later on, fireworks were used in other important events such as birthdays, funerals and festivals. But there was more in store from the black powder. During the 6th century, the Chinese were looking desperately for ways to fend off the Mongol army. They realized that the gunpowder could be used as an affective weapon against the invaders. So the first rockets in the shape of dragons were launched. The Europeans discovered fireworks and gunpowder by way of their travels to the east. It is said that either the Crusades or Marco Polo first imported gunpowder back home from China. Whoever was responsible, the locals welcomed this new discovery. The famous Queen Elizabeth II even created a fire official known as “Master of Fire” to make sure the royal fireworks lit up as they should. Fireworks did not touch American soil until the 17th century. Europeans brought them to celebrate holidays and also to use against the native tribes.

Today firecrackers are used all over the world to celebrate major events and holidays, both public and private. Governments spend millions of dollars in a bid to outdo one another with spectacular fireworks. The most recognizable is perhaps the annual fireworks show held at Sydney Harbor on New Year’s Eve. Fireworks’ Vibrant History - History in the Headlines Fireworks’ Vibrant History July 1, 2011 By Jennie Cohen Share Did you know the Chinese used fireworks to ward off evil spirits? Find out more. Share this: Google For many Americans, the Fourth of July wouldn’t be the same without a dazzling display of fireworks. Find out more about the history of these celebratory explosives and how they evolved from bamboo thrown into a fire into the elaborate shows that will light up the skies on Independence Day. Many historians believe that Independence Day’s most explosive form of entertainment originated in China, which continues to produce and export more fireworks than any other country in the world.

(Others trace their roots to the Middle East or India.) It is thought that, as early as 200 B.C., the Chinese had already stumbled upon a sort of natural firecracker: They would roast bamboo, which explodes with a bang when heated due to its hollow air pockets, in order to ward off evil spirits. At some point between 600 and 900 A.D., Chinese alchemists—perhaps hoping to discover an elixir for immortality—mixed together saltpeter (potassium nitrate, then a common kitchen seasoning), charcoal, sulfur and other ingredients, unwittingly yielding an early form of gunpowder. The Chinese began stuffing the volatile substance into bamboo shoots that were then thrown into the fire to produce a loud blast. The first fireworks were born. Soon, paper tubes came to replace the bamboo stalks, and the Chinese discovered that their fiery sticks could be used for more than just scaring away ghosts and celebrating special events. By the 10th century, they had developed crude bombs and begun attaching firecrackers to arrows that rained down on their adversaries during military engagements.

Two hundred years later, they learned how to fire explosives into the air and guide them toward enemy targets, essentially building the first rockets. Used outside the field of battle, the same technology allowed fireworks masters to put on the first aerial displays. In the 13th century, gunpowder samples and formulas began trickling into Europe and Arabia, transmitted by diplomats, explorers and Franciscan missionaries. Western scientists, metallurgists and military leaders threw themselves into making the substance even more potent and building powerful weapons such as cannons and muskets. Meanwhile, the softer side of gunpowder—fireworks—became increasingly popular first to commemorate military victories and later to enhance public celebrations and religious ceremonies. In medieval England, fireworks experts were known as firemasters. Their assistants, called “green men” because they wore caps of leaves to protect their heads from sparks, doubled as jesters, entertaining the crowd with jokes as they prepared the displays. It was a dangerous profession at the time, with many green men dying or suffering injuries when detonations went awry. By the time of the Renaissance, pyrotechnic schools were training fireworks artists across Europe, particularly in Italy, which became famous for its elaborate and colorful displays.

It was the Italians who in the 1830s became the first to incorporate trace amounts of metals and other additives, creating the bright, multihued sparks and sunbursts seen in contemporary fireworks shows. Earlier displays only featured booming sounds, orange flashes and faint golden traces of light. Fireworks gained an especially strong following among European rulers, who used them to enchant their subjects and illuminate their castles on important occasions. In England, the earliest recorded display took place on Henry VII’s wedding day in 1486. In 1685, James II’s royal firemaster achieved such a dazzling presentation for the king’s coronation that he received a knighthood. French kings regularly put on spectacular displays at Versailles and other palaces, while Czar Peter the Great of Russia arranged a five-hour pyrotechnic extravaganza to mark the birth of his son. Europeans brought their knowledge and appreciation of fireworks to the New World. According to legend, Captain John Smith set off the first display in Jamestown in 1608.

Records show that some American colonists may have gotten a little carried away: A spate of firecracker-related pranks in Rhode Island became such a public nuisance that officials banned the “mischievous use of pyrotechnics” in 1731. On July 3, 1776, the day before the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, John Adams wrote a letter to his wife in which he presaged the role of fireworks in Fourth of July celebrations. “The day will be most memorable in the history of America,” he predicted. “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade…bonfires and illuminations [a term for fireworks]…from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.” The following year, fireworks displays commemorated the fledgling country’s first anniversary, just as they have each subsequent one. They also light up the skies to mark other events of national importance, including presidential inaugurations going all the way back to George Washington’s, and holidays such as New Year’s Eve.

In the 1890s, rampant detonation of fireworks, particularly by unskilled ruffians, drove concerned citizens to form the Society for the Suppression of Unnecessary Noise, which lobbied for restrictions. Today, most states regulate how and where fireworks may be used, as well as the types of explosives consumers may buy. These laws notwithstanding, nearly 9,000 Americans were hurt by fireworks in 2009, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, with a disproportionate number of injuries occurring in July. Experts recommend precautions such as only detonating fireworks outside, obeying local ordinances, keeping water handy in case of a fire, preventing children from handling explosives and, most of all, using common sense. Visit the website of the National Council on Fireworks Safety for more tips. Where can you catch a glimpse of the flashiest displays this Fourth of July? Some of the most famous shows take place over the Hudson River in New York City, along Boston’s Charles River, at the National Mall in Washington and in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Tags The History of Fireworks Sulfur Charcoal These were heated over a fire and dried to give a black flaky powder which burned with a loud bang when ignited. This crude, early mixture has come to be known in our modern world today as gun powder. The Chinese named this fascinating black powder "huo yao" ("Fire Chemical") and developed it further. The mixture was inserted into the hollow of a bamboo stick and when thrown into a fire, the gases produced by the ignited burning powder inside caused an immense build up of pressure and blasted the tube apart. The basic fire cracker was born. Thereafter, fire crackers played an essential part to Chinese festivities -weddings, religious rituals -nay cause for celebration heard their bang due to the belief that they were thought to be powerful enough to scare off evil spirits. It was inevitable that the time would come when people would begin to realise that these now powerful explosives could be applied to warfare. The Chinese were well aware of the killing power these explosives had and within 100 years had not only developed fire arrows (bamboo fire crackers attached to regular arrows and shot at the enemy) but even 'Ground Rats'.

These consisted of propelling rats from inside the bamboo fire crackers and toward the enemy, creating a great psychological effect -scaring soldiers and causing horses to go wild. Before long, the knowledge of fireworks began to spread to the west. It is believed that Marco Polo on one of his many trips to China transported this invention to the Middle East where European Crusaders brought it to England. An English Scholar by the name of Roger Bacon (1214-1294) was one of the first Europeans to study gunpowder and write about it. He wrote "..... if you light it you will get thunder and lightening if you know the trick......." and realised that it was the Salt Peter (KNO3) that was the driving force behind the explosion. On the contrary, he knew his findings had the dangerous potential of completely revolutionising warfare. Therefore, he wrote his findings in code in the hope to save lives in case information reached the hands of the wrong people. This code was not deciphered for hundreds of years. It was in 1560 that European Chemists managed to make gunpowder as explosive as possible by experimenting with the ratios of the ingredients.

The final proportion was set as follows: 1) Salt Peter 75% 3) Sulphur 10% These ratios are still used today some 500 years later. This brought the end of medieval warfare causing it to come to a close as metal armour could now be punctured by bullets and once seemingly impenetrable walls of castles could be blown to bits by cannon balls. Credit for developing fireworks into a true art form has to be awarded to the Italians. It was they who were able to develop aerial shells that launched upward and exploded into a fountain of colour; lighting up the night sky to the enjoyment of onlookers. These firework displays grew more and more elaborate over the years, gradually working their way into the back gardens of everyday families. For nearly 2,000 years, the only colours fireworks could produce were yellows and oranges using steel and charcoal. It was only in the 19th Century that pyrotechnicians had the technology to introduce reds, greens and blues to the night sky. However the field of pyrotechnics is far from fulfilled.

There are problems that have been stumbled across that are yet to be solved (for example the production of forest green coloured fireworks) and certain areas of the field have not yet even been touched upon or explored. The field of pyrotechnics has both an exciting history and future and its development continues to this day. The New York City fireworks display on July 4, 2009 Photo by Yana Paskova/Getty Images. For as long as Americans can remember, the nation has celebrated the Fourth of July by staging grand fireworks shows in public squares and lighting smaller displays at home. Why do we commemorate Independence Day by setting off thousands of small explosions? Because John Adams wanted us to. Before the Declaration of Independence was even signed, he envisioned fireworks as a part of the festivities. In a letter to Abigail Adams on July 3, 1776, he wrote that the occasion should be commemorated “with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more .” The first commemorative Independence Day fireworks were set off on July 4, 1777.

The Pennsylvania Evening Post wrote that in Philadelphia, “The evening was closed with the ring of bells, and at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons , and the city was beautifully illuminated.” The paper noted that “Everything was conducted with the greatest order and decorum, and the face of joy and gladness was universal.” That same year, fireworks also lit up the sky in Boston, where they were exhibited by Col. Thomas Crafts over the common . By 1783 a large variety of fireworks were available to the public. In 1784 one merchant offered a range of pyrotechnics that included “ rockets, serpents, wheels, table rockets, cherry trees, fountains, and sun flowers .” While some historians have suggested that India first invented fireworks, modern fireworks seem to have come to the West by way of China. Most early fireworks were simply repurposed military munitions, fired for entertainment rather than to frighten or kill the enemy. In the 12th century, the Chinese improved the burning fire arrow (a long-established weapon) by affixing small packs of gunpowder to it.

From there it was not long before they invented rockets, simply stuffing a container with gunpowder and leaving a hole in one end for propulsion. These “ground-rats” or “fire-rats,” as they were called, were wildly unpredictable, however, and while this made them less effective, it did contribute to their entertainment value. These rockets made their palace hall debut when emperor Li Tsung brought them before the empress Kung Sheng, but when one scurried up to her, she gathered up her skirts and brought the feast to a halt. During the Renaissance, fireworks became popular in Europe and were used in nationalist and imperialist celebrations by figures like Peter the Great and Louis XIV, who were especially big fans of the pyrotechnics. Tradition alone, of course, does not explain the popularity of fireworks here and abroad. As with many festive decorations, including streamers, confetti, festival lights, and balloons , people often appreciate them simply for their bright colors. Others may appreciate the technical ingenuity and the choreography that goes into the show. And others just like dramatic loud noises, the sense of destruction, and the thrill of danger. Over time, fireworks shows can bring back memories of other festive occasions and warm summer nights.

On the other hand, there are the occasional fireworks haters . Got a question about today’s news? Ask the Explainer . Forrest Wickman is Slate’s culture editor overseeing music and movies coverage. How Are Fireworks Made? | Wonderopolis Wonder of the Day #550 How Are Fireworks Made? When and where were fireworks invented? What causes different colors in fireworks? Tags: Listen One of the best things about Independence Day and certain other holidays and celebrations is the fireworks show. It lights up the night sky with brilliant , colorful explosions. The sights and sounds of a spectacular fireworks show can amaze your senses, lift your spirits and inspire your heart. Although fireworks may seem like pure magic, they're actually pure science. All those different shapes and colors come about as a result of careful planning when making fireworks . Experts believe fireworks were invented in China well over 1,000 years ago. Today, China is still the largest manufacturer of fireworks in the world. Most kids are familiar with two basic types of fireworks : firecrackers and sparklers . Believe it or not, the science behind these two basic fireworks form the basis for those spectacular fireworks displays you see in the sky (called aerial fireworks ).

Firecrackers are simple rolled paper tubes filled with black powder (also called gunpowder) or flash paper and a fuse . When you light the fuse of a firecracker , the fire burns along the fuse until it reaches the powder. When it does, you get an explosion. Sparklers are different in that they make bright, sparkly light for a long time (up to a minute or more) rather than a short explosion. Sparklers contain more substances than firecrackers, so that they'll burn longer and produce light and sparks. The bright sparks you see are usually burning bits of dust made of metals, such as aluminum , iron, steel, zinc or magnesium . Aerial fireworks are usually manufactured as a shell that is made up of four parts. The container consists of pasted paper. The fuse allows the shell to reach the desired altitude before exploding. A bursting charge made of black powder (like a firecracker ) is at the center of the shell. Stars ( sparkler -like substances shaped into small spheres) are mixed throughout the interior of the shell. These shells are usually launched into the sky from short pipes filled with a lifting charge of black powder.

The lifting charge also lights the shell's fuse , which burns as the shell rises into the sky. When the flame along the fuse hits the bursting charge inside the shell, the shell explodes and the magic begins! The explosion ignites the stars. The stars burn to produce the bright sparks of light we see in the sky. The explosion pushes the stars in all directions, which creates the beautiful displays we're all familiar with. If you've ever seen fireworks that seem to explode in different stages, those fireworks use special “multibreak" shells. You can think of them as shells within shells that are made to explode in different phases. Not all fireworks look the same. Some explode in a circle, while others look like a shower of sparks falling down toward the Earth. The specific pattern that fireworks make in the sky depends upon the way the stars are arranged in the shell. To create a special pattern, manufacturers create an outline of the pattern they want with stars and then surround those stars with a special charge that will separate them all at the same time from the shell. It takes just as much science to create the beautiful colors we enjoy watching during fireworks shows. Most colors are produced by carefully mixing the right kinds of chemical compounds that will make particular colors when they burn.

Here are just a few examples of some of the chemical compounds used to make certain colors: red: strontium and lithium salts or carbonates If you like plaid skirts, you’re going to love tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day! Try It Out Ready for an awesome online fireworks display ? All you need is your mouse . So click — click — click your way to a fireworks show that's uniquely your own! If you want to learn more about the elements that are used in fireworks, particularly those used to create dazzling colors, click on over to the Periodic Table of the Elements in Fireworks . The elements used most often in fireworks are highlighted. Just click on an element to learn more about what it does in fireworks! For example, did you know that Antimony ( Sb ) is used to create glitter effects in fireworks? Who invented fireworks? - Who Invented? Who Invented? / TOYS AND GAMES / Who invented fireworks? Who invented fireworks? by 2016 Revision Leave a Comment It is believed that fireworks were invented 2000 years back in China but no sure records say as to who invented it.

The most believed legend says that a cook in China accidentally left some saltpeter in the fire and it produced a different kind of flame. Later the mixture of charcoal, sulphur and gunpowder were used in producing fireworks. The credit of inventing fireworks also goes to a Chinese monk Liu Yang of Hunan Province. He produced fireworks by filling gunpowder in bamboo tubes that would burst giving out a loud sound. It was generally done on festive days like New Year’s Eve to frighten evil spirits and keep them away. The fireworks traveled to Europe through China only when explorers and travelers like Marco Polo carried it along. The Europeans were more interested in its use in military science for manufacturing and developing cannons. The Italians have been credited to produce the first formal fireworks of different bright colors that were lit and shot up into the sky. The trained persons who lighted the fireworks were named as master of fireworks, fire masters, wild men or green men. Fireworks became a part and parcel of all celebrations slowly. Fireworks today are quite similar to that what we had in the past, but the latest fireworks are more pretty, more colorful and more decorative. They produce less air pollution controlling on smoke and fumes.

If you found this page useful then please share it « Previous Fireworks Magazine - History of Fireworks Bexhill TN40 1GX History of Fireworks and Celebrations To see nostalgic pictures of firework adverts of the past (all the old companies), click here THE ORIGINS OF FIREWORKS Nobody knows when the first fireworks were made, but fireworks were being used in ancient China long before they were known in other parts of the world. Two important Chinese inventions are used in fireworks - paper and gunpowder. The mixture we call "gunpowder" was used in China to make fireworks long before the invention of guns. It is a mixture of three things that have been known in China from ancient times. The first is charcoal, the black solid formed when wood is heated in a fire. The next is sulphur, found in many parts of the world as a peculiar, crumbly yellow stone. When sulfur is put into a fire, it melts and burns with a blue flame, making a dreadful smell. The ancient Chinese used sulphur as a medicine. The final thing that goes into gunpowder is saltpetre, a white powdery material that looks just like ordinary salt.

It is found naturally in the drier parts of China, and was used as a medicine and in cooking. Anyone who happened to spill some saltpetre into the fire would have noticed that the hot coals burned very fiercely around the melting saltpetre. Perhaps this gave someone the idea of mixing saltpetre and charcoal together and setting it alight. This mixture, if the proportions are just right, burns quickly and throws out glowing sparks. With some sulphur added, the mixture burns even more rapidly, making a lot of smelly smoke. When it is put into a paper tube, or a piece of bamboo, and set alight, the burning mixture shoots out a jet of fire and sparks. If the end of the tube is closed up, and the gunpowder is lit through a small hole, the jet of fire shoots out further. If the hole is very small, the tube sometimes bursts with a loud bang. This discovery would have been very exciting for the ancient Chinese. They liked to make loud noises at festivals and religious ceremonies, to scare away evil spirits. Before the invention of gunpowder, sticks of bamboo were thrown into fires to make loud bangs. Gunpowder would have been a great improvement.

Perhaps at first it was just put into bamboo tubes and set alight. Even if it did not always make a noise, the smoke and sparks would have helped to keep evil spirits and demons away. Eventually, someone worked out how to make a fuse out of very thin paper and gunpowder twisted into a long string. With this fuse, it became possible to make firecrackers that exploded reliably. The firecrackers for religious festivals were often made out of red paper. The fuses were plaited together to make long strings of firecrackers. When these were set off, they made a lot of very loud bangs and little bits of red paper were scattered far and wide. Evil spirits were supposed to be frightened of red, and so they would be kept away by the scattered pieces of red paper long after the firecrackers had finished. Chinese firecrackers are still used in huge numbers every year in Chinese festivals - and just for fun! Sometimes a firecracker that has not been made properly does not explode but instead shoots out a jet of fire and flies away in the air or along the ground. This is a very primitive rocket.

The ancient Chinese made rockets by fixing tubes packed with gunpowder to sticks, that kept the rockets pointing in the right direction as they flew through the air. These early rockets were used in festivals, and also in warfare as "arrows of flying fire". They were very effective against soldiers on horseback. The unknown Chinese inventor who first sent a tube of gunpowder into the sky on the end of a stick would have been very surprised to learn that people would one day travel to the moon with the help of giant rockets. Another Chinese discovery, still used in modern fireworks, was that powdered iron mixed with gunpowder made beautiful, flowerlike sparks. The ancient Chinese did not know about the chemicals needed to make coloured flames and white sparks. Fireworks with these effects were developed in Europe over the last two hundred years. In recent times, the Chinese have set up large factories to make fireworks for sale all over the world. As well as the traditional Chinese firecrackers, these factories make a huge variety of fireworks ranging from sparklers and tiny fountains to the colourful star shells used in big fireworks displays.

FIREWORKS THROUGH THE AGES by JOHN BENNETT No British schoolboy needs reminding of the story of Guy Fawkes, The Gunpowder Plot conspirator whose name has been linked in the public imagination over the centuries with the attempt to overthrow the government of James I. In fact Fawkes, a soldier born in York, was not the leader of the Plot but was discovered in the vaults before the opening of Parliament. Somehow Robert Catesby's Night does not have the same ring about it! However, a fire celebration at the time of year at which Guy Fawkes' Night is celebrated pre-dates Fawkes by at least 2000 years! The inhabitants of these islands celebrated at a festival called Samhain - at which bonfires were lit. It is believed that these were designed to ward off evil spirits as the dark days of Winter approached in days when there was no artificial light to alleviate the gloomy, short days. Why Guy Fawkes (or the Gunpowder Plot conspirators) became associated with the annual firework celebration is easy to establish.

Firstly the government wished the populace to be constantly reminded about a Roman Catholic plot which had threatened (or promised if you were a Roman Catholic!) to introduce Catholicism as the main - perhaps only - Christian creed in this country. This would have been why a contemporary declaration decreed that the Fifth Of November should be an annual public holiday in this country. Sadly this decree is no longer observed! The date, the Fifth of November, was also significant for religious reasons in that it was on this day that the protestant William of Orange (who was to become William III) landed in Britain to replace the Roman Catholic king, James II. But, perhaps even more significantly, the Plot held all the necessary constituents of a fiery celebration. There was gunpowder involved - even if it was never lit and never, as it undoubtedly would have done, destroyed the Palace of Westminster which pre-dated our current Houses of Parliament. It also involved the burning of an effigy - a relatively common occurrence at the time. Poor Guy Fawkes was not burned - but hanged, drawn and quartered - a barbaric fate reserved for traitors at the time.

Although Guy Fawkes is burnt in effigy on thousands of bonfires in Britain, St Peter's School in York is an exception, for the understandable reason that Guy (or Guido as he was sometimes known) was a pupil of that school. Indeed it was only in recent years that the school celebrated the event at all. The word 'guy' may not even refer to Guy Fawkes, with some associating the effigy with guisers (people, like mummers, who dress up to stage ancient dances and performances) and others attributing the name to a word, meaning log, which had associations with a Druid festival. Fireworks were associated with Guy Fawkes' Night from soon after the Plot - as we know from the Diary of Samuel Pepys. But then they were used to mark any form of celebration. The back garden fireworks of the time - squibs, serpents, crackers often made in unsuitable surroundings of the fireworkers' homes in busy crowded streets - are described by Pepys, and many of the fireworks familiar to us - like rockets and fountains - were known to him as well.

Sadly not everyone was as detailed as Pepys in the records they kept and - like other aspects of the lives of 'ordinary' people - firework use by the populace before Guy Fawkes went largely unrecorded. We do know however that 1487 saw the use of fireworks at the coronation of Elizabeth of York (bride of Henry VII) - where a dragon spouted fire into The Thames. That sad queen, Anne Boleyn, also witnessed fireworks at her coronation where 'wild men casting fire and making a hideous noise' were part of the celebration. Anne's daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, created the position of Firemaster - so enamoured was she of fireworks. A firework display was planned to celebrate the first ever 'Fifth of November' - but it never took place. Display audiences of the early nineteenth century and before would not have even been able to witness colour in fireworks. Many tricks were tried to suggest that the displays had colour - like coloured glass screens in front of non-coloured fireworks - and the use of pitch, oil and resin rather than gunpowder. Today metallic salts provide colours (strontium red, copper blue, barium green and sodium yellow).

Another way in which earlier display audiences were kept amused without colour was by the use of 'machines'. Machines were backdrops for the fireworks, often designed by leading architects of the day. Some of these were made of fabric and wood, but others (one in Versailles was made of red marble) were permanent structures and stood long after the fireworks had been lit. The machine would often be in the form of a temple or an important building and they would hide the rudimentary fusing used to communicate the fire from one firework to another - and indeed the fireworks themselves which did not have pretty wrappers as they do today. Another compensation for colour was size and quantity. Huge rockets (far bigger than anything used today) were fired in flights of hundreds and thousands and must have made a tremendous noise. And noise was something which was not in short supply. While there were no 'cakes' (the modern fireworks comprising many tubes), ground fireworks (pots) would be fired giving a similar (or even more spectacular) effect. But gold, silver and white were used in increasingly imaginative ways as the years progressed. Fireworks such as six pointed suns with moving parts between and spinning wheels of incrediable complexity pleased audiences then.

Perhaps because we have such interesting effects now, display operators have lost the art of ingenuity? The Maltese and Spanish, though, cannot be accused of this! Today Guy Fawkes celebrations are as popular as ever - both the use of shop fireworks and the witnessing of displays. Safe use of garden fireworks is a considerable joy, and public displays provide more spectacular sights. Modern displays often feature mainly aerial fireworks - and this is the main difference in firework presentation today with a display of a hundred years ago. Many can remember when ground fireworks - including amusing pieces like chickens laying eggs and men riding bicycles were part of the show. Now shells (fired by mortars (long cardboard tubes) form an important part of the major firework displays. These are quite rightly not available to the general public and are fired by operators who know their business. Fireworks are a source of colour, noise and excitement. Many argue that fireworks represent an art form rather than chemistry. They may have a point. Whatever your view, and whether you use garden fireworks or go to displays (remember to look at our display list ), or both, always play safe with fireworks. And they will afford you immense pleasure.

XXXXXXX Phantom Fireworks : Fireworks University : History of Fireworks History of Fireworks History of Fireworks History of Fireworks Fireworks originated in China some 2,000 years ago. The most prevalent legend has it that fireworks were discovered or invented by accident by a Chinese cook working in a field kitchen who happened to mix charcoal, sulphur and saltpeter (all commonly found in the kitchen in those days). The mixture burned and when compressed in an enclosure (a bamboo tube), the mixture exploded. Some sources say that the discovery of fireworks occurred about 2,000 years ago, and other sources place the discovery sometime during the 9th century during the Song dynasty (960-1279), although this could be confusion between the discovery of gunpowder by the cook and the invention of the firecracker. Some sources suggest that fireworks may have originated in India, but in the October 18, 2003, online edition of The Hindu, an Indian national newspaper, the Chinese are credited with the discovery of gunpowder.

A Chinese monk named Li Tian, who lived near the city of Liu Yang in Hunan Province, is credited with the invention of firecrackers about 1,000 years ago. The Chinese people celebrate the invention of the firecracker every April 18 by offering sacrifices to Li Tian. During the Song Dynasty, the local people established a temple to worship Li Tian. The firecrackers, both then and now, are thought to have the power to fend off evil spirits and ghosts that are frightened by the loud bangs of the firecrackers. Firecrackers are used for such purposes today at most events such as births, deaths and birthdays. Chinese New Year is a particularly popular event that is celebrated with firecrackers to usher in the new year free of the evil spirits. To this day the Liu Yang region of Hunan Province remains the main production area in the world for fireworks. It is important to remember the geographic origin of fireworks, because often detractors of the fireworks industry say that fireworks are produced in China to take advantage of cheap labor.

But the reality is that the fireworks industry existed in China long before the advent of the modern era and long before the disparity in east-west wage rates, and hopefully the fireworks industry will exist long after the existence of communism has an effect over the Chinese economy. Generally Marco Polo is credited with bringing the Chinese gunpowder back to Europe in the 13th century, although some accounts credit the Crusaders with bringing the black powder to Europe as they returned from their journeys. Once in Europe, the black powder was used for military purposes, first in rockets, then in canons and guns. Italians were the first Europeans who used the black powder to manufacture fireworks. Germany was the other European country to emerge as a fireworks leader along with Italy in the 18th century. It is interesting to note that many of the leading American display companies are operated by families of Italian descent such as the Grucci family, Rozzi family, and Zambelli family. The English were also fascinated with fireworks. Fireworks became very popular in Great Britain during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

William Shakespeare mentions fireworks in his works, and fireworks were so much enjoyed by the Queen herself that she created the position of "Fire Master of England." King James II was so pleased with the fireworks display that celebrated his coronation that he knighted his Fire Master. In the modern era, the American fireworks industry really began to influence Chinese manufacturers following President Nixon's normalization of relations with the Chinese Communist government in the early 1970s. Prior to that time, business was being done between U.S. and Chinese companies through Hong Kong brokers with little or no direct contact with mainland manufacturers. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the distribution channels in China were essentially state owned factories producing fireworks that were then exported through government owned provincial export corporations. Products produced in Hunan went through the Hunan Export Corporation, and products produced in Jiangxi went through the Jiangxi Export Corporation, and so on. During this period, factories were not required to make a profit, but rather their goal was to keep people working in a region of China where there was no real industry other than agriculture. The Chinese government subsidized these factories to keep production going.

The Provincial Export Corporation in turn sold to Hong Kong brokers who were the link between Mainland China and the foreign business entities. The Hong Kong brokers procured orders, arranged logistics, and helped finance shipments to the U.S. distributors. It was also during this time period that the first formally educated leader of China, Chairman Deng Xiaoping, saw what his counterparts in the former Soviet Bloc did not see, and that is that Communism simply did not work economically. Chairman Deng began a policy of economic reform that basically set China on the road toward capitalism. During the 1980s, China opened up dramatically to travel within its borders for visiting U.S. importers. This enabled the first American fireworks buyers to travel to the production regions and establish relations with Hong Kong exporters and the provincial export corporations. In the late 1980s, consumer fireworks became the focus of intense scrutiny by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Up to this point, most of the fireworks products had old generic export corporation labels that had incorrect warning labels based on item size and performance.

To correct the situation, representatives from the CPSC, American Pyrotechnics Association, and Hong Brokers Association spent 10 days in Southern China meeting with representatives from each export corporation and factory managers, on a province by province basis. The meetings involved shooting each item produced in China and determining what the appropriate and correct warning descriptions and print size should be from the point of view of providing safe warning labels for the American consumers. The Americans involved took on the infamous moniker of "The Shekou Six" by most of the shell shocked Chinese industry people, and from that meeting and a few that followed was born the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory (AFSL) which monitors firework production within China to this day. In the 1990s, economic reform continued under Chairman Jiang Zemin as Chinese factories were weaned off government funding and forced to turn a profit for the first time. It was during this period that many Provincial Export Corporation personnel left the government owned companies and were permitted to start their own. Initially these new private companies worked through the established Hong Kong brokers to reach the U.S. market, but within a few years they were selling directly to U.S. importers.

In order to survive, Hong Kong brokers invested money into Chinese factories and joint-ventured with Chinese entrepreneurs to start their own exclusive product lines and for their remaining larger customers. With the loss of key personnel, the government provincial export corporations never quite adapted to economic reform, and today most are gone or left selling to domestic Chinese markets. The 1990s saw the rapid growth of private labels in order for U.S. companies to differentiate their product lines. In the 2000s, China is a basic "free for all," with small mainland export-broker companies forming and folding each month. Additionally, separate factories are attempting to bypass historical channels and selling directly to U.S. importers. Each week American companies receive a half dozen e-mails or fax communications asking for the American companies to place orders directly with some small new and obscure factories that would like to begin exporting to the United States. The B.J. Alan Company, parent to the Phantom Fireworks chain of retail showrooms, currently has offices in Guangzhou and Liu Yang from which offices our team members serve as quality control and logistics monitors within China. Our goal is to continue to bring into the United States the best performing and safest consumer fireworks for our customers.

Question: Where is it believed that fireworks were invented?
Answer: China