An Illustrated History of Fireworks

The Chinese are believed to have discovered gun powder some 2000 years ago- around the 9thcentury. It is popular legend that alchemist monks accidentally spilled saltpeter into a cooking fire that contained charcoal and sulfur. Some allege that the monks were searching for an elixir of immortality. Others claim that the monks were trying to artificially produce gold. Either way, the result of their accidental combination was a loud mini explosion of flames called, black powder.

The first real use of the gunpowder was when a Chinese monk, Li Tian, discovered fireworks. He created a mixture of charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter that exploded when it was enclosed in a bamboo shoot.

The Chinese people used their new invention at celebrations and religious rituals. It was believed that the loud noise would frighten evil spirits and ghosts. They also used it for prosperous prayers. Over time, the tradition was adopted into all entertaining events. To this day, the Chinese people celebrate the invention of the firecracker every April. Li Tian even has his own temple dedicated to him. Although, some researchers make counter claims that India or Arabia really invented the firecracker, the Chinese theory is the most accepted.

The exact time and person that introduced the rest of the world to fireworks is also debatable. Some credit Marco Polo with bringing fireworks home to Europe in the 13thcentury. Others claim that it was in the 14thcentury, when crusaders saw the spectacular light and sound shows and brought them home. History texts state that King Henry VII had a firework show at his marriage, in 1496. Medieval time

rulers would also use fireworks to prove to their subjects that the court had magic powers. Fireworks made it the Americas in the 17thcentury when the English settled and brought fireworks with them.

Over the years, firework making turned into a true profession. Maybe this is because of the parallel between the basic principles behind fireworks and early cannons, rockets, and other rudimentary military equipment. None the less, Chinese pyrotechnicians perfected their skills and evolved into making dazzling displays of sound and light. It wasn’t until the 1830s that pyrotechnicians learned how to add color to fireworks by regulating the electromagnetic radiation.

Colors are created when metal salts are added to the mixture. The color is produced when heat is narrowed to a short segment of spectrum. Each metal salt produces light in a specific wavelength. Sodium salts make yellow. Copper salts make blue. Strontium nitrate makes red. Barium nitrate makes green. Carbon makes orange.

Pyrotechnicians also varied tones by using different temperatures to heat the sodium in fireworks. Fireworks change colors when the maker uses more than one layer of chemical. If the bursts are arranged in a circle around the charger, the fireworks take a sphere shape.

Today, it only seems appropriate that China is the largest manufacturer and exporter of fireworks in the world. Modern fireworks have advanced into elaborate shows with timers set to music, hundreds of color combinations and patterns, and true aerial art. Advances such as, launching fireworks with compressed air, have created less fumes, increased accuracy and timing, and allows the firework to go much higher in the air.

The Maderia, Portugal New Years Eve fireworks show holds the Guinness World Record for largest firework event in the world. In 2006, the firework show consisted of 66,326 fireworks.

There is even an Olympics of sorts for pyrotechnicians. The World Pyro Olympics is held every year in the Philippines. All of the top firework companies in the world participate.

United States firework use is controlled by federal, state, and local laws. The National Fire Protection Association dictates the minimum standard for display and use, but local and state laws expand on this law. You can see the specifics of the federal law by looking up the fireworks code: NFPA 1123. The sale of consumer fireworks is totally banned in Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island .

The largest, oldest, and most reputable firework producer (in the United States) is, “Zambelli Fireworks Internationale.” They do about 3500 shows per year. Some of these shows require months of preparation. For example, the Zambelli’s do the “Thunder Over Louisville,” firework show at the Kentucky Derby. The fireworks are launched using 10 computers, eight barges, and a 3,200 foot bridge. Nearly 800,000 people watched it in 2007.

These shows are not cheap either. The average firework display costs about $10,000 for 15 minutes of fireworks. Bigger and longer shows can run up to a half million dollars. Fireworks for small weddings or funerals cost an average of $1500.00 dollars.

Thank you for taking this journey through fireworks with me. I will leave you with a final picture of the 4thof July, 2007, show in front of Illinois capital building.