4th Of July Fireworks, Parades And Barbeques

Tired of the taxation from Britain and the increasing animosities against the British, frustrations eventually led to the colonists’ desire for liberty.  John Adams drafted a letter to his wife after the acceptance of the Declaration asserting that the day would be celebrated for many generations to come: a day full of parade, pomp, and celebrations.  This mention of celebratory practices was the first to indicate that the day should be honored with parties, parades, fireworks, and festivities. 

History Of 4th Of July And The Use Of Fireworks

Many believe that the creation of fireworks happened quite by accident involving bamboo.  Bamboo is a wood that has hollow air pockets inside; when this wood is heated, it can explode.  In the seventh century, it is believed that one of more people in China had burned bamboo in some kind of outdoor fire and discovered the wood’s explosive properties.  Naturally, with an explosion, a loud sound soon followed and this scared nearby people in the area.  Since loud noise is created when bamboo explodes and frightens people, it was also believed by some that fireworks had the ability to frighten off malevolent entities or spirits as well. 

Modern day fireworks did not come into being until the invention of gunpowder.  Ironically, gunpowder is also believed to have accidental beginnings.   The discovery of gunpowder was later to be followed by the creation of TNT, smokeless gunpowder, nitroglycerin, and nitrocellulose.  The invention of gunpowder, like fireworks, is attributed to China, and both inventions are considered one of the four great inventions of the country.

The Chinese circa the ninth century; the discovery was made by alchemists as they conducted experiments with different ingredient as they attempted to develop an immortality elixir.  By 1044 AD, gunpowder already had various nitrate levels ranging from 27 to 50 percent.   In the twelfth century, gunpowder was powerful enough to break through cast iron.  Historians assert that the real explosive power of gunpowder was discovered in 1280 AD when a large quantity of gunpowder caught on fire.  Rockets and explosives, at first used in warfare and to frighten off evil spirits, were later used to propel fireworks into the air and for celebratory purposes.  Nobility used fireworks at various celebrations throughout the country. In Ming, commoners also used fireworks during various celebrations and events.  For more information visit http://www.everything4thofjuly.com/historyoffireworks.htm

History Of 4th Of July: Early Discovery And Uses

Famous explorers sound found out about the fireworks created in China; in the early 1290s, Marco Polo traveled to the country and returned to Italy with fireworks.  The Italians appreciated the beauty of fireworks and began experimenting with them; they added different colors including gold and silver by putting in different chemicals in the fireworks that they created.  Shells were also created by the Italians that would allow for fireworks to reach very high altitudes before exploding.

When King Henry VII got married in the late 1480s, it was the first time that fireworks were reportedly used in a celebration in England.  Queen Elizabeth I came to appreciate fireworks greatly, so much so that she appointed a Fire Master of England during her reign.  Fireworks were also put to use during the reign of the Holy Roman Emperor while Charles V was ruling; these displays were handled by fireworkers who would purposefully put on victory presentations.

Settlers arriving in the New World in the Western hemisphere also brought fireworks along with them.  These fireworks were sometimes used to either frighten or impress the Native Americans and sometimes used for celebratory purposes.  These fireworks were used to celebrate major events even before the conclusion of the Revolutionary War; fireworks were used in 1777 when celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, and they were used in various events from then on, including at the inauguration of George Washington in 1789.  For more information visit http://wiki.answers.com/Q/.

More On The History Of 4th Of July And Fireworks

Fireworks are handled today by professional pyrotechnics.  Individuals are certified and trained on the proper handling of thousands of different fireworks.  There are rigid safety guidelines and regulations that have to be adhered to when using fireworks for the safety of all involved, including the pyrotechnics and the firework viewing audience.  When a firework presentation is planned, pyrotechnics work hand in hand with emergency personal and police officials to ensure that the presentation runs smoothly.

There are different chemicals used inside fireworks to produce the colors that blaze across the night sky.  Fireworks producing blue colors contain copper materials; those that produce green colors contain chlorine and barium.  White fireworks consist of aluminum and magnesium.  Yellow fireworks are made of sodium compounds.  Orange fireworks contain calcium salts.  Silver fireworks contain aluminum and other burning metals.  Purple fireworks have copper and strontium.  Red fireworks contain lithium salts and strontium.  Finally, gold fireworks are made up of charcoal and iron.

Today, in the United States the biggest consumer of firework products is the Walt Disney World theme park.  In the late 1990s, the company was the very first to use compressed air to launch aerial fireworks instead of using gunpowder.  Doing so offered improved display timing, height, and fewer fumes.  Presently, the biggest annual firework display is offered at the Kentucky Derby Festival.  Of course, the fourth of July is the day every year when the most fireworks are used across the nation.  Many memorable firework displays have been witnessed in the skies on the 4th of July. 

Of course, no fourth of July celebration in the States is complete without picnicking, barbeques, and parades.  As many as 66 million individuals attend barbeques every year.  Barbequing and family oriented pastimes became more popular after the fourth of July was declared a federally recognized, paid holiday in the early 1940s.  For more information visit http://www.useironline.org/PDF/Fireworks/History%20of%20Fireworks.pdf.