Fireworks and Firecrackers

mrymntcpw
Jul 2, 2023
2 min read

In the next few days, one is likely to see/hear fireworks in celebration of Independence Day-the 4th of July. Let’s have a celebratory, panoramic view.

Fireworks

From Merriam-Webster:

fireworks plural

: a spectacular display

: strong feelings of usually romantic or sexual attraction between two people

: a display of temper or intense conflict

a The word fireworks burst upon the scene in the 1500s as a reference to military explosives (a sense that is now obsolete). These explosives were originally used as weapons, of course, but soon they were also being used in explosive displays celebrating victory or peace. By 1575 people were oohing and aahing over "fireworks shewed upon the water; the which were both strange and wel [sic] executed." Figurative uses have been popping up ever since the 1600s. In addition to the angry explosion sense, fireworks can also refer to a spectacular display of musical, visual, or verbal brilliance, as in "an outstanding album, bursting with spectacular musical fireworks."

According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, the first natural "firecrackers" were bamboo stalks that when thrown in a fire, would explode with a bang because of the overheating of the hollow air pockets in the bamboo. Fireworks made their way from China to Europe in the 13th century and by the 15th century were widely used for religious festivals and public entertainment. The Italians were the first Europeans to manufacture fireworks and European rulers were especially fond of the use of fireworks to enchant their subjects and illuminate their castles on important occasions.

Fireworks were part of the first Independence Day – a tradition that continues every 4th of July when we celebrate as John Adams had hoped “with pomp, parade….bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.”

b Romantic fireworks