In 1776 the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain's rule. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches and ceremonies.
This year Addison, Texas — the town where I live — made the responsible decision to film its 36th annual fireworks display, Kaboom Town, at an undisclosed location and post it to YouTube. WARNING: It is 25 minutes long. There was no public gathering in a park or people lining the streets trying to get a good view.
For more than three decades, Addison Kaboom Town! ® has been named among the top fireworks shows in the country. The spectacular show was named the #2 Independence Day fireworks display by Yahoo.com, and is ranked as one of the top 10 fireworks displays in the country by USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, Travel + Leisure Magazine and the American Pyrotechnic Association.
History
The earliest fireworks came from China during the Song dynasty (960–1279). Fireworks were used to accompany many festivities. The art and science of firework-making has developed into an independent profession. In China, pyrotechnicians were respected for their knowledge of complex techniques in mounting firework displays. Chinese people originally believed that the fireworks could expel evil spirits and bring about luck and happiness.
During the Han dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD), people threw bamboo stems into a fire to produce an explosion with a loud sound. In later times, gunpowder packed into small containers was used to mimic the sounds of burning bamboo. These exploding bamboo stems and gunpowder firecrackers were interchangeable, known as baozhu or baogan. By the 12th and possibly the 11th century, the term baozhang was used to specifically refer to gunpowder firecrackers.
During the Song dynasty (960–1279), many of the common people could purchase various kinds of fireworks from market vendors. Grand displays of fireworks were also known to be held. In 1110, a large fireworks display in a martial demonstration was held to entertain Emperor Huizon of Song (r. 1100–1125) and his court. A record from 1264 states that a rocket-propelled firework went off near the Empress Dowager Gong Sheng and startled her during a feast held in her honor by her son Emperor Lizong of Song (r. 1224–1264). Rocket propulsion was common in warfare, as evidenced by the Huolongjing compiled by Liu Bowen (1311–1375) and Jiao Yu (fl. c. 1350–1412). In 1240 the Arabs acquired knowledge of gunpowder and its uses from China. A Syrian named Hasan al-Rammah wrote of rockets, fireworks and other incendiaries, using terms that suggested he derived his knowledge from Chinese sources, such as his references to fireworks as "Chinese flowers."
In regards to colored fireworks, this was derived and developed from earlier (possibly Han or soon thereafter) Chinese application of chemical substances to create colored smoke and fire. Such application appears in the “Huolongjing” (14th century) and “Wubeizhi” (preface of 1621, printed 1628), which describes recipes — several of which used low-nitrate gunpowder to create military signal smokes with various colors. In the Wubei Huolongjing (Ming, completed after 1628), two formulas appear for firework-like signals, the sanzhangju and baizhanglian, that produces silver sparkles in the smoke. In the Huoxilüe (1753) by Zhao Xuemin, there are several recipes with low-nitrate gunpowder and other chemical substances to tint flames and smoke. These included, for instance, arsenical sulphide for yellow, copper acetate for green, lead carbonate for lilac-white and mercurous chloride for white. The Chinese pyrotechnics have been written about by foreign authors such as Antoine Caillot (1818) who wrote "It is certain that the variety of colors which the Chinese have the secret of giving to flame is the greatest mystery of their fireworks" or Sir John Barrow (ca. 1797) who wrote "The diversity of colors indeed with which the Chinese have the secret of cloathing fire seems to be the chief merit of their pyrotechny."
Fireworks were produced in Europe by the 14th century, becoming popular by the 17th century. Lev Izmailov, ambassador of Peter the Great, once reported from China: "They make such fireworks that no one in Europe has ever seen." In 1758, the Jesuit missionary Pierre Nicolas le Chéron d’Incarville, living in Beijing, wrote about the methods and composition on how to make many types of Chinese fireworks to the Paris Academy of Sciences, which revealed and published the account five years later. Amédée-François Frézier published his revised work Treatise on Fireworks in 1747 (originally 1706), covering the recreational and ceremonial uses of fireworks, rather than their military uses. “Music for the Royal Fireworks” was composed by George Frideric Handel in 1749 to celebrate the Peace Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which had been declared the previous year.
In 1786 Bertholet discovered that oxidations with potassium chlorate resulted in a violet emission. Subsequent developments revealed that oxidations with the chlorates of barium, strontium, copper, and sodium result in intense emission of bright colors. The isolation of metallic magnesium and aluminium marked another breakthrough as these metals burn with an intense silvery light.
Founded in 1969, the Pyrotechnics Guild International Inc. or PGI is an independent worldwide nonprofit organization of amateur and professional fireworks enthusiasts. It is notable for its large number of members, around 3,500 in total. PGI exists solely to further the safe usage and enjoyment of both professional grade and consumer grade fireworks, while both advancing the art and craft of pyrotechnics and preserving its historical aspects. Each August PGI conducts its annual weeklong convention, where some the world's biggest and best fireworks displays occur. Vendors, competitors and club members come from around the U.S. and from various parts of the globe to enjoy the show and to help out at this all-volunteer event. Aside from the nightly firework shows, the competition is a highlight of the convention. Individual classes of hand-built fireworks are competitively judged, ranging from simple fireworks rockets to extremely large and complex aerial shells. Some of the biggest, best and most intricate fireworks displays in the United States take place during convention week.
Amateur and professional members can come to the convention to purchase fireworks, paper goods, novelty items, nonexplosive chemical components and much more at the PGI trade show. Before the nightly fireworks displays and competitions, club members have a chance to enjoy open shooting of any and all legal consumer or professional grade fireworks, as well as testing and display of hand-built fireworks. The week ends with the Grand Public Display on Friday night, which gives the chosen display company a chance to strut their stuff in front of some of the world's biggest fireworks aficionados. The stakes are high, and much planning is put into the show. In 1994 a shell of 36 inches in diameter was fired during the convention, more than twice as large as the largest shell usually seen in the U.S.
Halloween
Both fireworks and firecrackers are a popular tradition during Halloween in Vancouver, although apparently this is not the custom elsewhere in Canada.
In the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland there are many fireworks displays, during the Halloween season. The largest are in the cities of Belfast, Derry and Dublin. The 2010 Derry Halloween fireworks attracted an audience of over 20,000 people. The sale of fireworks is strongly restricted in the Republic of Ireland, though many illegal fireworks are sold throughout October or smuggled from Northern Ireland. In the Republic the maximum punishment for possessing fireworks without a license or lighting fireworks in a public place is a €10,000 fine and a five-year prison sentence.
Two firework displays on All Hallows' Eve in the United States are the annual "Happy Hallowishes” show at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party” event, which began in 2005, and the "Halloween Screams" at Disneyland Park, which began in 2009.
Fireworks celebrations around the world
Australia
In Australia, fireworks displays are used in the public celebration of major events such as New Year's Eve.
France
In France, fireworks are traditionally displayed on the eve of Bastille day — July 14 — to commemorate the French revolution and the storming of the Bastille on that same day in 1789. Every city in France lights up the sky for the occasion with a special mention to Paris that offers a spectacle around the Eiffel Tower.
Hungary
In Hungary fireworks are used on August 20, which is a national celebration day.
India
Indians throughout the world celebrate with fireworks as part of their popular "Festival of Lights" or Diwali in October-November every year.
Japan
During the summer in Japan, fireworks festivals are held nearly every day someplace in the country — in total numbering more than 200 during August. The festivals consist of large fireworks shows, the largest of which use between 100,000 and 120,000 rounds and can attract more than 800,000 spectators. Street vendors set up stalls to sell various drinks and staple Japanese food and traditionally held festival games, such as Kingyo-sukui or goldfish scooping.
Even today, men and women attend these events wearing the traditional yukata, summer kimono or jinbei — men only, collecting in large social circles of family or friends to sit picnic-like, eating and drinking, while watching the show.
The first fireworks festival in Japan was held in 1733. Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival is one of the many being celebrated annually throughout Japan in summer.
Malta
Fireworks have been used in Malta for hundreds of years. When the islands were ruled by the Order of St John, fireworks were used on special occasions, such as the election of a new Grand Master, the appointment of a new Pope or the birth of a prince. Nowadays, fireworks are used in village feasts throughout the summer. The Malta International Fireworks Festival is also held annually.
Monte-Carlo International Fireworks Festival
Pyrotechnics experts from around the world have competed in Monte Carlo, Monaco since 1966. The festival runs from July to August every year, and the winner returns in 18 November for the fireworks display on the night before the National Day of Monaco. The event is held in Port Hercule, beginning at around 9:30 p.m. every night, depending on the sunset.
Singapore
The Singapore Fireworks Celebrations — previously the Singapore Fireworks Festival — is an annual event held in Singapore as part of its National Day celebrations. The festival features local and foreign teams which launch displays on different nights. While currently noncompetitive in nature, the organizer has plans to introduce a competitive element in the future. The annual festival has grown in magnitude — from 4,000 rounds used in 2004, to 6,000 in 2005, to over 9,100 in 2006.
South Korea
Busan International Fireworks Festival and Seoul International Fireworks Festival are some of the most significant fireworks festivals in Asia.
Switzerland
In Switzerland fireworks are often used on 1 August, which is a national celebration day.
United Kingdom
One of the biggest occasions for fireworks in the U.K. is Guy Fawkes Night held each year on November 5, to celebrate the foiling of the Catholic Gunpowder Plot on November 5, 1605 — an attempt to kill King James I.
United States
Fireworks and black ash were used to celebrate important events long before the American Revolutionary War. The very first celebration of Independence Day was in 1777, six years before Americans knew whether or not the new nation would survive the war; fireworks were a part of all festivities. In 1789, George Washington's inauguration was accompanied by a fireworks display. This early fascination with fireworks' noise and color continues today with fireworks displays commonly included in July 4th celebrations.
In 2004, Disneyland in Anaheim, California, pioneered the commercial use of aerial fireworks launched with compressed air rather than gunpowder. The display shell explodes in the air using an electronic timer. The advantages of compressed air launch are a reduction in fumes and much greater accuracy in height and timing. The Walt Disney Co. is now the largest consumer of fireworks in the United States.
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