It seems almost unthinkable today to have a real celebration without fireworks. Throughout the history of mankind, crackling light shows have been clearly merged with the notion of happy, carefree fun. With the celebrations of August 20th approaching, we thought it was worth taking a look at where this tradition came from.
An accident of chance
The first fireworks were probably "discovered" around 200 BC. In China, bamboo branches were thrown into the fire. Some interpretations claiming it was merely a source of heat, others say that the crackling booms were used to drive away evil spirits.
Around 800 AD, an alchemist mixed sulfuric acid, charcoal and potassium nitrate in the hope of creating an elixir of eternal life, but the end result caught fire, and thus the gunpowder we know today was born. When this gunpowder was placed in bamboo tubes, for the first time in our history, fireworks were deliberately created!
In the footsteps of war
Of course, it didn't take long for the military industry to discover this new invention, and in the 1200s China created the first rockets and cannons.
It was only a matter of time before gunpowder and its various uses reached the West. When European and Arab envoys visited the Far East, they had an inspiring experience in every respect. Later on, the first Western muskets, cannons and, more importantly for us, fireworks appeared.
Getting colorful
By the 1600s, fireworks had become an important part of the festive celebrations, so much so that King James II of England bestowed knighthoods on those who created truly impressive fireworks. Two days before the signing of the American Declaration of Independence, one of the founding fathers of the United States, John Adams, was on pins and needles for the celebrations and fireworks surrounding the historic event.
The fireworks we know today were a long time coming, but in 1830 Italian craftsmen created the first devices capable of colorful explosions. Adding various additives to the basic formula, everything was finally in place for fireworks to fill the sky in all their glory.
Noble holidays
If we look around the world's major holidays today, we find that we are not the only ones to boast about red-letter holidays with impressive fireworks displays. In America, 4th of July celebrations commemorate the founding of the United States with colorful pyrotechnic displays that dazzle on every square. On 9 August, Singapore fires fireworks into the sky to celebrate its independence from Malaysia. But we can also see national celebrations in Australia, Malta and many other places.
At first glance, the fireworks may seem like a simple pyrotechnical feat, but when you look deeper into its history, a very clear picture emerges: it has become a symbol of nation-building and independence.