There may be many instances when you run to your terrace to look out as the crackling sound and flashes of light spread across the night sky, and there, you see a giant flower blooming in a shower of golden or multi-coloured sparks, that makes your pulse vibrate with excitement. Yes, I am talking about fireworks — the glitters that spread across the sky. No doubt, they make us smile, and often for no reason.
Fireworks have a long history, dating back over 2,000 years to ancient China. It all began with a surprising discovery. When people throw bamboo stalks into fires, as a result the air pockets inside expanded rapidly and burst, and created loud explosions. This accidental bang led Chinese alchemists by the 7th century CE to develop early gunpowder by mixing sulphur, charcoal and potassium nitrate. Stuffing this gunpowder into bamboo shoots became the first man-made fireworks. Over time, the knowledge of fireworks spread to the Middle East and eventually Europe, where advancements in colour effects were introduced.
