History of Fireworks
| It was the Chinese who were the first used fireworks and they used it for a good reason -- to ward off evil spirits. The earliest evidence of their usage goes way back to the seventh century. They were also used as a way to celebrate happy times. |
What started as a small way of celebrating and keeping away evil elements turned into a profession in China. Soon, various types of fireworks were developed, and Chinese fireworks manufactures even at that time earned the reputation of creating dazzling firework displays. The first documented evidence of the use of such fireworks came in 1264, when it was used in a feast that was held to honor the son of Emperor Lizong of Song. However, fireworks were used only by royalty at that time, and it was only after the Ming Dynasty that they could be used by lay people as a part of their celebrations.
It was from China that the use of fireworks spread to Europe and Arabia. It was Marco Polo who was responsible for bringing gunpowder from China to Europe. And, along with this, he also brought the information on how to use fireworks.
Fireworks came to the US from the early settlers. There is document evidence of fireworks being lit to celebrate the end of the American Civil War.
The manufacture of modern fireworks is still quite similar to what it was during the ancient times, but, today, you can see the inclusion of interesting colors now such as pink, aqua and salmon. In 2004, for the very first time, compressed air was used to launch fireworks rather than gunpowder.
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