On the 4th of July, American citizens across the country gather with friends and family to celebrate America's independence. Parades, concerts, and barbeques are held in every town and backyard, with events cumulating in an explosive display of color that lights up the night sky. Many would say that no 4th of July celebration would be complete without fireworks and that the explosive tradition is as American as apple pie.
While the American tradition dates back to the first Independence Day celebration in Philadelphia in 1777, fireworks have been around much longer. The earliest form of the pyrotechnics was in 200 B.C. during the Han Dynasty. The Chinese people believed they could ward off evil spirits by throwing bamboo stalks into the fire. The air inside the stalks would heat and expand, resulting in a loud bang when they exploded. They termed the firecrackers ‘Baozhu’, which translates into ‘exploding bamboo.’
Around 600-900A.D. scientists took the firecracker a step further. They started combining potassium nitrate, sulfur, and carbon to create saltpeter (gunpowder). The saltpeter was poured into bamboo tubes which were then thrown into the fire to set off the explosion. Various ingredients were added to the mixture to make colored explosions. Steel dust or cast-iron shavings were added to create bright sparkles in the explosion. Fireworks continued to evolve, paper tubes replaced bamboo stalks, and fuses made from tissue paper were used instead of throwing the tube into the fire. These innovations made fireworks a common sight during New Year celebrations and weddings where the loud explosions were used to chase off evil spirits.
As gunpowder spread west along the silk road, the knowledge of fireworks went with it. Italy was the first western country to manufacture fireworks, specializing in elaborate explosions. European rulers were extremely found of fireworks, using them to ‘enchant their subjects and illuminate their castles on important occasions.’ They were incorporated into celebrations across Europe, used in events ranging from the annual ‘Girandola’, a firework display at the Castello Sant’Angelo in Rome, to the coronation of Anne Boleyn.
The knowledge of fireworks expanded once again, traveling with settlers to the new world where they continued to be used to celebrate important events. Before the Declaration of Independence was signed, John Adams imagined what the celebration would look like. In a letter to his wife, he wrote that the occasion should be commemorated ‘with pomp and parade, with shews, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.’ His wish came true, large celebrations, parades, and firework displays are held every year in communities across the country.
