When I was growing up we celebrated Victoria Day with a huge scavenger hunt, dinner, and fireworks with a big group of friends. I have yet to develop any Victoria Day traditions with my kids, but I have a soft spot for fireworks. (Owen Sound has an excellent display every November, which is especially nice for those who don’t want to stay up till 11 pm like you have to for summer fireworks.) You probably know that gunpowder was invented in China. Here’s a little more information on the history of fireworks, taken from History.com.

Origins in China

Although fireworks may have originated in the Middle East or India, many historians believe they appeared first in China. Around 200 BC the first firecrackers were created by throwing pieces of bamboo into a fire, where the hollow air pockets would cause a small explosion. These were believed to ward off evil spirits.

Sometime between 600 and 900 AD Chinese alchemists serendipitously invented gunpowder by mixing charcoal, sulphur, and saltpeter (potassium nitrate). This was stuffed into bamboo shoots (and later paper tubes) and thrown into fires to cause explosions.

Over the next few centuries the Chinese developed bombs, rockets, and the first aerial firework displays. At this point fireworks only came in orange.

Spread to Europe

Gunpowder reached Arabia and Europe in the 13th century via diplomats, explorers, and missionaries. There the technology was further developed to create cannon and muskets.

In medieval Europe fireworks were used to commemorate military victories and later in other public ceremonies. Firemasters were assisted by “green men” named for the leaves they wore on their heads to protect themselves from sparks. The first recorded display in England took place on Henry VII’s wedding day in 1486.

By the Renaissance pyrotechnic schools appeared across Europe, especially in Italy. In the 1830s the Italians were the first to incorporate trace amounts of metal into fireworks to create colours other than orange.

Fireworks in the New World

Legend has it that Captain John Smith set off the first display of fireworks in the New World in 1608. Fireworks or firecrackers must have become a problem in the colonies because Rhode Island banned the “mischievous use of pyrotechnics” in 1731.

On July 3, 1776 in a letter to his wife John Adams predicted that fireworks (along with parades and bonfires) would be used by successive generations to commemorate this momentous time in American history.

In my experience Victoria Day and Canada Day are the two occasions for firework displays in Canada. With the Covid-19 situation it remains to be seen what Canada Day will be like this year. I hope you were able to enjoy a bit of a holiday today. (For more on Victoria Day see my posts on Victoria’s children and movies about Queen Victoria.)