The History of Fireworks
Pyrotechnics Origninating in Ancient China
The development of the firework was reliant on two Chinese inventions dating back some 2,000 years. The first and most important component necessary to make a firework was the discovery of gunpowder. The most popular legend as to how this was invented is by mistake in an ancient Chinese kitchen. The story goes that a Chinese cook accidentally mixed three ingredients: charcoal, sulphur and saltpeter. It may seem strange but these were common ingredients used in medicine and cooking and were found in most kitchens of the time. Originally the mixture was called huoyao and was used to treat skin conditions and to fumigate insects before its properties as an explosive were realised.
The Ingredients of Ancient Gun Powder
Saltpeter, or Potassium Nitrate is a naturally occurring precipitate from a mixture of salts. Dung heaps were a particularly common source as it is formed from decomposing urea. It sounds unlikely, but when mixed in the correct proportions with charcoal it burns with the emission of glowing sparks. The addition of sulphur not only increases the rate at which the mixture burns; it creates a blue flame and lots of pungent smoke. This should not be confused with the rotten egg smell produced by hydrogen sulphide as sulphur in its natural state is odourless.
When placed in a tube, which was originally bamboo but later made of paper ( the second Chinese invention the development of fireworks was dependent on) and ignited the burning mixture shoots out a jet of fire and sparks, a bit like a miniature rocket booster. If a small hole has been inserted into the tube the burning mixture expands and explodes with a loud bang,
The Invention of the Fire Cracker
Traditionally the Chinese have always created loud noises to frighten off evil spirits, and the creation of gunpowder proved to be quite efficient for this. Legend has it that Li Tian invented the fire cracker. He lived approximately 1,000 years ago in the city of Liu Yang, Hunan Province. The addition of a short fuse to the early crude firework made the explosion considerably more reliable. Used in religious celebrations the fuse was made of red paper as it was believed that not only were evil spirits frightened by loud bangs, they were also afraid of the colour red. The fuses of a number of crackers were plaited together and when ignited the combined fuses created a very loud bang, sending tiny pieces of red paper fluttering into the sky, scattering the evil spirits as it fell back to earth.
It is believed that the Chinese created firework rockets by attaching fire crackers to sticks and igniting the fuses. Not only were these used in celebrations but also warfare, and were particularly efficient against mounted soldiers as they frightened the horses causing them to rear and unseat their rider or bolt.
Fireworks Reach Europe
The explorer, Marco Polo (1254-1324) is credited with bringing gunpowder from China to Europe during the 13th century. In Great Britain, fireworks first gained popularity during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558 -1603). The Queen was so enamoured with the firework that she created the position of Fire Master of England. James II was so pleased with the firework display laid on as part of his coronation celebrations by his Fire Master that he knighted him.
Although fireworks were most commonly used in Great Britain to celebrate the foiled attempt by Guy Fawkes to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605, nowadays they are a common feature of many celebrations. However, gone are the days when it was acceptable to let fireworks off throughout the night. With the exception of New Year's Eve, it is illegal to let fireworks off after 11 p.m., and it is also illegal to sell them to anyone under the age of 18. Always follow the Firework Safety Code to ensure that fireworks are handled with care and accidents are avoided.
Firework Display
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