History of Fireworks
The history of fireworks is as colorful as the flashes of
light that they emit. This article will deal with the
history of fireworks, from its discovery to its modern
uses.
China is recognized as the birthplace of fireworks.
However, the exact date of its invention, as well as the
discovery of gunpowder (an important element used in
fireworks) is greatly debated by historians.
Some say that it goes as far back as 2000 years ago, while
others peg it at a much later time during the Middle Ages.
The Chinese mainly used fireworks for entertainment
purposes. Those considered as the first firecrackers were
bamboo tubes filled with gunpowder which were then thrown
into the flame.
The loud noise that these firecrackers, and other
subsequent fireworks, emitted was believed to drive away
evil spirits. That is why the Chinese usually use them to
usher in a new year.
Use of fireworks eventually spread westward, initially to
the Middle East then later on to Europe. The first recorded
use of fireworks in Europe was sometime during the 13th
century.
While the Chinese used fireworks for entertainment, the
Europeans used it for military purposes. It was at this
time when guns were invented.
The Europeans, too, spearheaded the development of
fireworks. They studied it closely and even had schools
built specifically for that purpose – one was in Italy
while the other was in Nuremberg, Germany.
Today, fireworks continue to be a significant part of major
celebrations such as the New Year. There are even
international festivals dedicated to showcasing fireworks
displays.