Many of us have recently watched the firework displays around the State celebrating the 4th July. We were fortunate to enjoy the great event Bath provided which prompted the question of the history of fireworks. To satisfy our curiosity, research revealed the following.

Yes, fireworks date from the 7th century and did originate in China to scare away evil spirits. The Chinese developed many different kinds of fireworks with a variety of effects and color. The art and science of making these developed into an independent profession. Pyrotechnicians were respected for their knowledge of complex techniques in mounting fireworks displays. During the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279), many of the common people could purchase various kinds of fireworks from market vendors and grand displays were known to be held for festivities such as Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.

In 1110, a large fireworks display in a martial demonstration was held to entertain Emperor Huizong of Song (1100-1125) and his court. Today, displays are common throughout the world and are the focal point of many cultural and religious celebrations. Independence Day, New Year’s Eve and Guy Fawkes Night (U.K.) are examples.

In 1240 the Arabs acquired the knowledge of gunpowder and its uses from China. A Syrian named Hasan al-Rammah wrote of rockets, fireworks and other incendiaries, using terms that suggested he derived this from Chinese sources, such as his references to fireworks as “Chinese flowers.”

Fireworks take many forms to produce the four primary effects: noise, light, smoke and floating materials (confetti for example). The most common feature is a paper or pasteboard tube or casing filled with the combustible material, often pyrotechnic stars. A number of these tubes are often combined to make, when lit, a great variety of sparkling shapes, variously colored. The skyrocket is a common form of firework, although the first skyrockets were used in war. The aerial shell, however, is the backbone of today’s commercial aerial display, and a smaller version for consumer use is known as the festival ball in the United States. Such rocket knowledge has also been used for the delivery of mail by rocket and is used as propulsion for most model rockets. China remains the largest manufacturer and exporter of fireworks in the world.