Originating in ancient China, fireworks have been around for over 2,000 years.
The first fireworks were made from bamboo and gunpowder.
The first recorded use of fireworks for celebration was in 1275 in China.
Fireworks were introduced to Europe in the 14th century.
The first fireworks display in the United States was in 1777 in Philadelphia.
Fireworks are made from a combination of chemicals, including gunpowder, metals, and oxidizers.
The most common metals used in fireworks are aluminum, magnesium, and iron.
Fireworks can reach temperatures of up to 2,000°F (1,093°C).
The highest altitude reached by a firework is 4.2 miles (6.8 km).
The largest firework ever made was over 10 feet (3 meters) long and weighed over 2,000 pounds (907 kg).
The Japanese Yonshakudama is believed to be the largest single firework readily available in the world. This big boomer creates an explosion in the sky almost a kilometer long.
The Yonshakudama firework weighs 930 lbs and is forty-eight inches in diameter.
The most popular firework is the aerial shell. These fireworks can reach up to 1,000 feet (305 meters).
Fireworks are a $1 billion industry in the United States alone.
An estimated 10,200 fireworks-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments in 2022. That’s down from an estimated 11,500 injuries in 2021.
Overall, 67.1% of the patients injured were male. Yup, we’re dumb.
Fireworks were used in the American Civil War to signal troop movements.
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