Fireworks were associated with Independence Day celebrations a year after the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
The discovery of gunpowder and the invention of the first fireworks are traditionally credited to the Chinese, although India is also a likely source. The sound of these first firecrackers, which appeared about 1,000 years ago, was so loud that the Chinese were convinced that the noise would scare away evil spirits. Since then, any event -- a birth, death, wedding, coronation, or New Year's celebration -- has become a fitting occasion for noisemakers.
The earliest settlers brought their enthusiasm for fireworks to this country. Firing of black powder was used to celebrate holidays. This fascination with the noise and color of fireworks continues today.
Fireworks were associated with Independence Day celebrations a year after the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
By the American Revolution, fireworks had long played a part in celebrating important events. It was natural that not only John Adams, but also many of his countrymen should think of fireworks when independence was declared. The very first celebrations of Independence Day were in 1777, six years before Americans knew whether the new nation would survive the war. Fireworks were a part of these festivities. In 1789, George Washington's inauguration was also accompanied by a fireworks display.
Fireworks have been with Americans since the nation's very beginnings. Let's continue to celebrate safely on this and every Independence Day.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
A dedicated fireworks quay will be built in Beihai port by Liuyang Government
According to a delighted Mr. Xu Qiangguo, the Director of the Fireworks Bureau who just returned from Guangxi on December 29. “Liuyang will build a dedicated quay for fireworks transportation in Beihai in the near future.” On Dec. 26th, accompanied by the deputy group leader of “Ten Billion fireworks project group” Mr. Fu Xuming and the deputy mayor Mr. Jiang Guoping, Mr. Yi Jialiang who is a Member of the Standing Committee of Chansha and Party Secretary of Liuyang, arrived in Guangxi Province to have the second round of meeting with the International Harbor Group of North Bay. After the meeting, both parties signed the Memorandum of Cooperating to construct the Fireworks Quay.
Over the years, due to the existing problems of China Port, there had been difficulties in exporting Liuyang fireworks from there. In order to have a permanent solution to the transporting problem, Liuyang government plans to cooperate with the International Harbor Group of Northern Bay to build a dedicated Quay in Beihai which can load 150,000 tons fireworks and dangerous goods. On this basis, the new quay will create a complete supply chain from the production area to the destination. To achieve safety, stability, professionalism, convenience and low cost, they would implement a model of “Production area inspection, concentrate on loading, enveloping the container on the spot, and transshipment”.
It is understood that the fireworks quay project has commenced. At present, Liuyang has worked out the main body of investment, structure and budget. The feasibility study on the storage, inspection and prepared logistics is still ongoing.
Over the years, due to the existing problems of China Port, there had been difficulties in exporting Liuyang fireworks from there. In order to have a permanent solution to the transporting problem, Liuyang government plans to cooperate with the International Harbor Group of Northern Bay to build a dedicated Quay in Beihai which can load 150,000 tons fireworks and dangerous goods. On this basis, the new quay will create a complete supply chain from the production area to the destination. To achieve safety, stability, professionalism, convenience and low cost, they would implement a model of “Production area inspection, concentrate on loading, enveloping the container on the spot, and transshipment”.
It is understood that the fireworks quay project has commenced. At present, Liuyang has worked out the main body of investment, structure and budget. The feasibility study on the storage, inspection and prepared logistics is still ongoing.
Friday, December 26, 2008
LIUYANG: City of Fireworks
Although many towns throughout the world have a close association with fireworks there is none with a greater claim to their title 'City of Fireworks' than Liuyang. Situated in the Hunan province of China, Liuyang has a greater concentration of fireworks manufacturers than anywhere else in the world. If you've ever wondered where your fireworks come from, the answer is probably: Liuyang.
It is the nature of fireworks making that the different processes are spread far apart - a precaution against a chain reaction should there be a single accident. For this reason, you can wander far and wide in and around Liuyang and it appears that everywhere you look there is something happening which involves the creation of fireworks.
"If you stand anywhere in Liuyang at night and look in any direction, there will be fireworks going off. Everywhere. In town, out of town, everywhere you look. In all directions.
That also means that everybody else who is buying fireworks will be there, too. People who are buying fireworks from everywhere else in the world. So, at any given breakfast, you’ll be sitting down with Brits, Germans, Dutch, Ozzie’s, Turks, and Russians—all there for the same reason".
Exactly how long fireworks have been made in Liuyang is the subject of some debate. Since fireworks are generally thought to have originated in China anyway, it is unlikely that there was any definitive point of origin.
It is probable though that the history of fireworks production in Liuyang spans more than 1300 years. "Industries in China", published in 1935, recorded that "the earliest fireworks came into being in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and Chinese fireworks manufacturing began to flourish during the Song Dynasty; its birthplace is in Liuyang".
During the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1644 -1911), Liuyang fireworks became an article of tribute to the royal families which gave an added impetus to the developing trade.
Fireworks workshops boomed ( ! ! ! ), until more than nine out of ten households were engaged in the trade. Fireworks began to be exported to more than 20 countries and regions.
Today, Chinese fireworks are amongst the best in the world and the quality and variety of the pyrotechnics has contributed to the growth in the appreciation of fireworks in the UK. Where once upon a time fireworks in Britain were limited almost exclusively to Bonfire Night, we now enjoy fireworks championships, competitions and festivals, as well as celebrating weddings, birthday and any other special occasion with a pyrotechnic flourish.
It is the nature of fireworks making that the different processes are spread far apart - a precaution against a chain reaction should there be a single accident. For this reason, you can wander far and wide in and around Liuyang and it appears that everywhere you look there is something happening which involves the creation of fireworks.
"If you stand anywhere in Liuyang at night and look in any direction, there will be fireworks going off. Everywhere. In town, out of town, everywhere you look. In all directions.
That also means that everybody else who is buying fireworks will be there, too. People who are buying fireworks from everywhere else in the world. So, at any given breakfast, you’ll be sitting down with Brits, Germans, Dutch, Ozzie’s, Turks, and Russians—all there for the same reason".
Exactly how long fireworks have been made in Liuyang is the subject of some debate. Since fireworks are generally thought to have originated in China anyway, it is unlikely that there was any definitive point of origin.
It is probable though that the history of fireworks production in Liuyang spans more than 1300 years. "Industries in China", published in 1935, recorded that "the earliest fireworks came into being in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and Chinese fireworks manufacturing began to flourish during the Song Dynasty; its birthplace is in Liuyang".
During the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1644 -1911), Liuyang fireworks became an article of tribute to the royal families which gave an added impetus to the developing trade.
Fireworks workshops boomed ( ! ! ! ), until more than nine out of ten households were engaged in the trade. Fireworks began to be exported to more than 20 countries and regions.
Today, Chinese fireworks are amongst the best in the world and the quality and variety of the pyrotechnics has contributed to the growth in the appreciation of fireworks in the UK. Where once upon a time fireworks in Britain were limited almost exclusively to Bonfire Night, we now enjoy fireworks championships, competitions and festivals, as well as celebrating weddings, birthday and any other special occasion with a pyrotechnic flourish.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The history of fireworks
The discovery of fireworks, or namely the formulation of gunpowder is believed to have occurred by chance approximately 2,000 years ago in China.
It is thought that a Chinese cook accidentally mixed three common kitchen ingredients: Salt Peter, Charcoal, Sulphur.
These were heated over a fire and dried to give a black flaky powder which burned with a loud bang when ignited. This crude, early mixture has come to be known in our modern world today as gun powder.
The Chinese named this fascinating black powder "huo yao" ("Fire Chemical") and developed it further. The mixture was inserted into the hollow of a bamboo stick and when thrown into a fire, the gases produced by the ignited burning powder inside caused an immense build up of pressure and blasted the tube apart. The basic fire cracker was born.
Thereafter, fire crackers played an essential part to Chinese festivities -weddings, religious rituals -nay cause for celebration heard their bang due to the belief that they were thought to be powerful enough to scare off evil spirits.
It was inevitable that the time would come when people would begin to realise that these now powerful explosives could be applied to warfare. The Chinese were well aware of the killing power these explosives had and within 100 years had not only developed fire arrows (bamboo fire crackers attached to regular arrows and shot at the enemy) but even 'Ground Rats'. These consisted of propelling rats from inside the bamboo fire crackers and toward the enemy, creating a great psychological effect -scaring soldiers and causing horses to go wild.
Before long, the knowledge of fireworks began to spread to the west. It is believed that Marco Polo on one of his many trips to China transported this invention to the Middle East where European Crusaders brought it to England.
An English Scholar by the name of Roger Bacon (1214-1294) was one of the first Europeans to study gunpowder and write about it. He wrote "..... if you light it you will get thunder and lightening if you know the trick......." and realised that it was the Salt Peter (KNO3) that was the driving force behind the explosion. On the contrary, he knew his findings had the dangerous potential of completely revolutionising warfare. Therefore, he wrote his findings in code in the hope to save lives in case information reached the hands of the wrong people. This code was not deciphered for hundreds of years.
It was in 1560 that European Chemists managed to make gunpowder as explosive as possible by experimenting with the ratios of the ingredients. The final proportion was set as follows:
1) Salt Peter 75%
2) Charcoal 15%
3) Sulphur 10%
These ratios are still used today some 500 years later.
This brought the end of medieval warfare causing it to come to a close as metal armour could now be punctured by bullets and once seemingly impenetrable walls of castles could be blown to bits by cannon balls.
Credit for developing fireworks into a true art form has to be awarded to the Italians. It was they who were able to develop aerial shells that launched upward and exploded into a fountain of colour; lighting up the night sky to the enjoyment of onlookers.
These firework displays grew more and more elaborate over the years, gradually working their way into the back gardens of everyday families. For nearly 2,000 years, the only colours fireworks could produce were yellows and oranges using steel and charcoal. It was only in the 19th Century that pyrotechnicians had the technology to introduce reds, greens and blues to the night sky.
However the field of pyrotechnics is far from fulfilled. There are problems that have been stumbled across that are yet to be solved (for example the production of forest green coloured fireworks) and certain areas of the field have not yet even been touched upon or explored.
The field of pyrotechnics has both an exciting history and future and its development continues to this day.
It is thought that a Chinese cook accidentally mixed three common kitchen ingredients: Salt Peter, Charcoal, Sulphur.
These were heated over a fire and dried to give a black flaky powder which burned with a loud bang when ignited. This crude, early mixture has come to be known in our modern world today as gun powder.
The Chinese named this fascinating black powder "huo yao" ("Fire Chemical") and developed it further. The mixture was inserted into the hollow of a bamboo stick and when thrown into a fire, the gases produced by the ignited burning powder inside caused an immense build up of pressure and blasted the tube apart. The basic fire cracker was born.
Thereafter, fire crackers played an essential part to Chinese festivities -weddings, religious rituals -nay cause for celebration heard their bang due to the belief that they were thought to be powerful enough to scare off evil spirits.
It was inevitable that the time would come when people would begin to realise that these now powerful explosives could be applied to warfare. The Chinese were well aware of the killing power these explosives had and within 100 years had not only developed fire arrows (bamboo fire crackers attached to regular arrows and shot at the enemy) but even 'Ground Rats'. These consisted of propelling rats from inside the bamboo fire crackers and toward the enemy, creating a great psychological effect -scaring soldiers and causing horses to go wild.
Before long, the knowledge of fireworks began to spread to the west. It is believed that Marco Polo on one of his many trips to China transported this invention to the Middle East where European Crusaders brought it to England.
An English Scholar by the name of Roger Bacon (1214-1294) was one of the first Europeans to study gunpowder and write about it. He wrote "..... if you light it you will get thunder and lightening if you know the trick......." and realised that it was the Salt Peter (KNO3) that was the driving force behind the explosion. On the contrary, he knew his findings had the dangerous potential of completely revolutionising warfare. Therefore, he wrote his findings in code in the hope to save lives in case information reached the hands of the wrong people. This code was not deciphered for hundreds of years.
It was in 1560 that European Chemists managed to make gunpowder as explosive as possible by experimenting with the ratios of the ingredients. The final proportion was set as follows:
1) Salt Peter 75%
2) Charcoal 15%
3) Sulphur 10%
These ratios are still used today some 500 years later.
This brought the end of medieval warfare causing it to come to a close as metal armour could now be punctured by bullets and once seemingly impenetrable walls of castles could be blown to bits by cannon balls.
Credit for developing fireworks into a true art form has to be awarded to the Italians. It was they who were able to develop aerial shells that launched upward and exploded into a fountain of colour; lighting up the night sky to the enjoyment of onlookers.
These firework displays grew more and more elaborate over the years, gradually working their way into the back gardens of everyday families. For nearly 2,000 years, the only colours fireworks could produce were yellows and oranges using steel and charcoal. It was only in the 19th Century that pyrotechnicians had the technology to introduce reds, greens and blues to the night sky.
However the field of pyrotechnics is far from fulfilled. There are problems that have been stumbled across that are yet to be solved (for example the production of forest green coloured fireworks) and certain areas of the field have not yet even been touched upon or explored.
The field of pyrotechnics has both an exciting history and future and its development continues to this day.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
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