History of July 4th Fireworks

Fireworks have been around for nearly 1,000 years and were first invented in China. They rolled explosives around bamboo and the noise was so loud the Chinese were convinced it could scare away evil spirits.

Fireworks made their way to Europe sometime in the 13th century, probably carried back from the East by Crusaders. Their popularity grew, and by the 15th century they were widely used for religious festivals and public entertainment.

The earliest settlers brought their passion for fireworks to America. They used the explosives to celebrate holidays and impress the natives. Some generals even used fireworks to stage victory in battle and confuse the enemy. By the time of the American Revolution, fireworks were an intregral part of American tradition in idealizing important events.

The first Independence Day fireworks display occured in 1777, when Americans were still unsure if their freedom as a new nation would last. Every year since, fireworks have been set off on this day to show national pride and patriotism.