FIREWORKS

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT FIREWORKS

Some sources say that the discovery of fireworks occurred about 2,000 years ago in China. The most popular legend tells that . . . .

Fireworks were discovered by accident by a Chinese cook! He was working in a field kitchen and happened to mix charcoal, sulphur and saltpeter (all commonly found in the kitchen in those days).

The mixture burned and when compressed in an enclosure (a bamboo tube), the mixture exploded.

• Other sources place the discovery sometime during the 9th century during the Song dynasty (960-1279)


• Some sources suggest that fireworks may have originated in India.
  
• Firecrackers were thought to have the power to fend off evil spirits and ghosts.
  
• Marco Polo is often credited with bringing the Chinese gunpowder back to Europe in the 13th century, although many accounts credit the Crusaders with bringing the black powder to Europe as they returned from their journeys.
  
• Once in Europe, the black powder was used for military purposes, first in rockets, then in canons and guns.
  
• Italians were the first Europeans who used the black powder to manufacture fireworks.