Sunday, July 01, 2007

This July 4th, Enjoy your "Italian" Fireworks

The ANNOTICO Report

 

Rudimentary "firecrackers" were developed during the Han Dynasty, around 200 B.C. in rural China.

 

But while you are enjoying your July 4th Fire works display, be they at the stadium, in your back yard, or anywhere in between, remember that Italians were the first to put an artistic spin on fireworks during the Renaissance. They developed the first aerials, canisters that shoot multiple exploding shells into the air.

The Italians also developed a precursor to the modern-day "sparkler" by placing a slow-burning gun powder mix into an open-ended paper tube. The tube would burn away, shooting off sparks as it did.

The Italians struck again in 1830, when their pyrotechnicians developed a way to cause fireworks to burn in multiple colors. Until then, fireworks could only emit an orange flash with black/white sparks.

Fireworks Date Back 2,000 years to China

 

Staten Island Advocate

By James Queally

Advance Staff Writer 

Sunday, July 01, 2007

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- We never seem to question the American tradition of blowing things up in order to properly celebrate our independence.

Every year, splashes of red, white and blue populate the sky behind billowing clouds of smoke, eliciting cheers from people watching both professional fireworks displays and illegal neighborhood shows.

People are fully aware that fireworks signify the anniversary of our freedom from Great Britain, but few seem to know that those beautiful explosions were originally Chinese traditions.

Rudimentary "firecrackers" were developed during the Han Dynasty, around 200 B.C. in rural China. Farmers would throw chunks of green bamboo onto fires when fuel ran short. The plant would sizzle, then explode. The hollow core of a bamboo spear allows air to become trapped inside, and when this air becomes properly heated, the rod explodes.

Italians were the first to put an artistic spin on fireworks during the Renaissance. They developed the first aerials, canisters that shoot multiple exploding shells into the air.

They also developed a precursor to the modern-day "sparkler" by placing a slow-burning gun powder mix into an open-ended paper tube. The tube would burn away, shooting off sparks as it did.

The Italians struck again in 1830, when their pyrotechnicians developed a way to cause fireworks to burn in multiple colors. Until then, fireworks could only emit an orange flash with black/white sparks.

Fireworks made their way to North America with the first English settlers. Pyrotechnics were used to celebrate important events, but gained a public following on our original Independence day in 1777 and during George Washington's inauguration.

China has maintained its position as the world leader in exporting fireworks to this day. Their main customers these days are the citizens of the good old U.S.A.

James Queally is a news reporter for the Advance. He may be reached at queally@siadvance.com.

 

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