Interesting Facts About Fireworks

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 21:10:00 +0000

Interesting Facts About Fireworks

It is generally accepted that fireworks were first discovered about 2000 years ago in China. The Chinese use fireworks regularly in all religious functions and celebrations, with the belief that the noise that they set off will frighten evil spirits. Fireworks were also used regularly in other Asian countries like Thailand and India. Although it is likely that the tradition of using fireworks for important religious and social occasions in all these countries had its origin in the belief that they could be useful in warding off evil spirits, today the greater motivation comes perhaps from the desire to have fun. Unlike the UK and other western countries, the sale and use of fireworks in many other countries are not strictly regulated, and almost anyone can buy and use them without many restrictions.

Fireworks in Britain

Fireworks were brought to the western world by the well-known globetrotter Marco Polo and European crusaders from the Middle East. In England the first recorded display of fireworks took place in 1486 during the wedding of King Henry VII. Later King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I made them popular. During this period, fireworks attained respectability and royal recognition. The position of a fireworks master was created by Queen Elizabeth I to take professional charge of all fireworks displays. It was left to King James II to elevate this position to the level of nobility when he knighted a fireworks master in recognition of a spectacular and exceptional display organized by him at the coronation ceremony of the king.

Fireworks in Europe

The Italians have been major contributors to the development of fireworks as an engaging form of art, adding variety and fascination to the shows. Florence in Italy had become a centre of fireworks manufacture by the 15th century. The Italians regularly used plaster figures that gave out fire from their eyes and mouths in their festivals. The coronation ceremony of Anne Boleyn was perhaps one of the first royal occasion in which such a display was employed. Subsequently, fireworks gained popularity among the royalty of Europe. King Louis XV of France encouraged extravagant fireworks displays. The credit for organizing one of the longest shows in those early days probably should go to the Czar of Russia, Peter the Great, when a five hour long show was held to celebrate the birth of a son to the czar.

Some interesting facts

The Japanese word for firecrackers reflects the popular view that fireworks are an art form and a matter of great beauty. Fireworks in Japanese are called hanabi, which literally means fire-flower.

The largest single firework was organized by the Japanese at a festival in 1988 with a single shell that weighed more than half a ton, and burst over an area that spread over a kilometre across.

A string of firecrackers that went on and on lasting 22 hours marked the New Years day celebrations in Hong Kong in 1996.

Static electricity in synthetic clothing can set off firecrackers. Because of this, people making firecrackers wear only cotton clothing while making firecrackers.

The biggest annual fireworks display event in Europe is the International Festival concert held in Edinburgh, Scotland, in which as many as a million fireworks are set off in less than an hour.

Funchal city of Madeira Island organized a Guinness world record event in fireworks with a display that included 17 tons of fireworks, and more than 660, 000 detonations that lasted for eight minutes.

University of Plymouth Scientist Roy Lowry claims to have set a new record by setting off 55,000 rockets in five seconds.

The Spirit of Springfield, which was set up in 1989 to promote community activities in the area organizes hi-tech 4th of July celebrations that is full of interesting facts. The show is studded with choreography, music and fireworks fired by a computer programme and involving massive inputs in terms of manpower, setup time and equipment that includes several miles of wire, tons of sand, and lumber that is sufficient to build an average sized house. The fireworks show features designer shells from a more than half a dozen countries.

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Fireworks and Weddings

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:43:00 +0000

Fireworks and Weddings

Fireworks for weddings, fireworks for schools and the use of fireworks to celebrate important events like births, Independence Day, New Year have been the recent off shoots of an old tradition discovered in China some 2000 years ago. Initially firecrackers were set on fire to celebrate births, deaths or any special event occurring amongst the Chinese family members. However, with the fireworks traveling across the globe to Europe and America, it metamorphosed into the present day bright lights that are used in both public displays as well as private fun. Events like the U.S. Independence Day, Guy Fawkes Day, Diwali, and the Chinese New Year have always been marked with splendid fireworks displays. However, in recent times fireworks are becoming increasingly popular with individuals who use them to make their private moments more special and memorable. Fireworks, at weddings, birthdays, private bonfires at schools and homes, make the event more special. In fact, more and more couples are choosing to end their wedding with the perfect fireworks display chosen and created for that moment.

Wedding is a special event in every individual's life that is celebrated with family and friends where one is believed to start a new life, adopting and accepting another individual into one's life. It has been seen that fireworks for weddings are a more common concept in the United Kingdom as compared to the United States. However, with the increasing popularity of the bright lights among couples getting married in the United States, more and more wedding service planners are including list of fireworks suppliers in their directories.

Types of Fireworks for weddings

Budget plays an important role in determining the type of fireworks you would like to use for your weddings. Depending on your budget and the venue for your wedding, you can choose from a variety of sparklers, outdoor displays, indoor displays and a set piece display. Sparklers are very popular with low budget weddings as they add both lights as well as a personal touch to the weddings. Sparklers of various sizes are lit everywhere to light up the place, so also on the wedding cake to add panache to the event. Another way to use sparklers is to ask your guests to hold sparklers as the newly wedded couple leave the venue. Outdoor displays and indoor displays largely depend on the venue, your budgetary permits and the rules and regulations of the place where the wedding is held. Set piece display is where the fireworks company has certain fixed pieces that say either "Congratulations" or "Good Luck" or come in shapes like the wedding cake or heart and these are sold at a per letter or shape rate and hence become affordable for those who do not plan for a high budget wedding.

Tips for planning fireworks for wedding

The first step that has to be taken while planning a fireworks display for weddings is to find out whether the laws of the place, where the wedding is planned, allows fireworks display. Laws regarding fireworks are different for different places as it is not necessary that a law that allows buying and selling of fireworks, will allow public display of fireworks! If the laws allow fireworks display then you should do proper research on the fireworks displays available. One must understand that fireworks displays come in many packages and the cost depends on the size and type of display that is chosen. With the advent of technology, all the information regarding fireworks display packages are available at your fingertip. Details regarding specific fireworks for events, how to buy them and their rates are all available on the Internet, along with the various choices as regards fireworks suppliers. These companies also help you obtain the permit, if any, required for public display of fireworks in your area. They help you choose the best possible display that would make your event special and memorable and also match the venue to the display.

While fireworks make an event memorable, it is important to realize that whether you use fireworks for weddings or for schools or for any event, there is a responsibility to clean up the entire place and also ensure that accidents are not caused due to improper use of fireworks. In such cases, it is advisable, that in order to make your wedding or event more special, you leave the fireworks displays to the hands of a qualified professional, for both beauty as well as safety's sake.

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Interesting Facts About Fireworks