Facts About Fireworks

Today, we know fireworks as the big, colorful explosions used to celebrate our independence. However, they’ve been around long before 1776. There are many interesting facts about the creation and development of fireworks that many people are not aware of.

1. The Chinese invented fireworks when they combined saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal in an attempt to find a potion for immortality. The precise year is not known, but it is assumed to be somewhere between 600 A.D. and 900 A. Even earlier than that, in 200 B.C., the Chinese invented a type of firecracker. They would set bamboo on fire, which would then make loud popping noises. This was done as protection, primarily to scare off intruders.
2. Europe was the next destination for fireworks. Marco Polo brought them back from China around 1295. This ignited the global spread of the celebratory explosions.
3. The Queen of England was so enamored and excited by them that she developed the title of “Fire Master of England,” and gave it to the person who created the best fireworks.
4. The invention of modern fireworks was not until the 1830s, when the Italians invented the aerial shell and added in powders and metallic salts to produce colorful eruptions.
5. The use of them as a celebration on our Independence Day started in 1777, and has been done ever since. U.S. consumers bought over 160 million pounds of fireworks in 2014, and actual fireworks displays used another 20 million pounds.

Nowadays, fireworks are much more advanced than they were originally. A rocket can reach heights of 200 meters and hit speeds of 150 mph, while a sparkler burns at temperatures 15 times hotter than boiling water. This advancement is a reflection of our love for fireworks. Be sure to share the history of fireworks this holiday.