Light Up the Sky : Fireworks

Happy Tuesday ! The last Tuesday of June and today post is Fireworks – history, symbolizes and safety. So Enjoy and Be Safe ! Lisa

Many historians believe that fireworks originally were developed in the second century B.C. in ancient Liuyang, China. It is believed that 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.

Around 200 BC, the Chinese unintentionally invented firecrackers by tossing bamboo into fire, but it took another thousand years before true fireworks came alive. As the story goes, around 800 AD, an alchemist mixed sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate (a food preservative) hoping to find the secret to eternal life.

When did fireworks start as a tradition?

England’s King Henry VII, whose royal standard bore the Red Dragon, included fireworks at his wedding in 1486, the first known use of fireworks at a national celebration, and his wife’s coronation in 1487 featured a fire-breathing dragon, which became popular in royal fireworks displays during the reign of the Tudors.

Why do we set Fireworks for 4th of July?

The tradition of setting off fireworks on the 4 of July began in Philadelphia on July 4, 1777, during the first organized celebration of Independence Day. Ship’s cannon fired a 13-gun salute in honor of the 13 colonies.

Fireworks Symbolizes:

The dream of fireworks signifies the escalation of your emotional state of being. The greater the size and brightness of the fireworks, the greater the amount of energy they contain. Although the fireworks dancing across the night sky are breathtakingly beautiful, they are fleeting and disappear in a second.

Fireworks Safety :

1. Fireworks packaged in brown paper are made for professional displays – avoid buying.
2. Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities, especially with sparklers.
3. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
4. Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
5. Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire and to douse used fireworks before discarding in trash.
6. Never allow young children to play or ignite fireworks.
7. Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
8. Never try to re-light or pickup fireworks that have not ignited fully.
9. Never place a part of your body directly over a firework device when lighting.
10. Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

Join Me at the Downtown Baton Rouge Annual Fireworks Show:

Most patriotic of all is the annual fireworks show in Downtown Baton Rouge over the Mississippi River! Baton Rouge’s Fourth of July Spectacular welcomes thousands of guests from around the country dressed in their best red, white and blue for an evening-long event of fun, ending with a breathtaking fireworks display overlooking the mighty Mississippi. Join celebrations happening all over the city and a Fireworks Extravaganza Show in Downtown Baton Rouge on the Mississippi during the evening of the 4th!

You can also join the fun from wherever you are! Baton Rouge’s patriotic celebration will be accompanied by a live telecast live on 24 Hour News Channel WBRZ+, WBRZ.com, and WBRZ News 2’s Facebook page.