CELEBRATING THE 4TH WITH A BANG

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Marion Pellicano Ambrose When I was a kid, we waitedall year for the 4^th of July to come along. On that day, we wereallowed to have “punks” ( In case you never heard of it, a punk is a smolderingstick used for lighting firework fuses.  It is safer than a match or a lighter because it can be used from a greater distance anddoes not use an open flame. They are made of bamboo and a browncoating of dried manureor compressed sawdust.Punks often resemble sticks of incense, and in some countries actual incense sticks are usedin a similar fashion. Punks are sold at nearly all firework stands and somestands will include them for free with a purchase.) We all felt so grown up,carrying a lit and smoking stick of manure! We all couldn’t wait until it gotdark when our parents would herd all the neighborhood kids up to the Knights ofColumbus where we would all sit out on the dock overlooking the bay. From thedock, we could see the glorious fireworks display from Coney Island, which was directly across the bay.  As we munched on homemade sandwiches anddrank Kool ade,  a chorus of “oohs” and“ahhs” rang out as  bursts of red, white,blue and gold sparkled in the night sky. Now, kids can go to Disney or one of the other theme parks for nightly fireworks.They can purchase packages with missiles, flowerpots and star clusters to shootoff in their own back yards. Yet even with the convenience and availability ofprofessional fireworks, kids still get a thrill out of the actual 4^thof July fireworks.History of FireworksThe Chinesemost likely gave spark to the first fireworks during the Han Dynasty (206B.C.–220 A.D.). They ignited paper or bamboo tubes filled with explosives tocreate loud noises that would scare off evil spirits. That ability to creategood vibrations quickly made fireworks an essential part of events such asweddings, funerals, coronations and New Year’s observances.It wasn’tuntil the 13th century that fireworks made their way to Europe.Some credit businessman and trader Marco Polo with delivering the firstshipment. Others say it was Crusaders returning from the East.By the 15thcentury, Italians had developed fireworks into an arts-and-entertainmentaccessory by mixing chemicals and shaping canisters to produce showers of sparksthat lit up the night sky. Elaborate displays that spun, sparkled and shotbecame a much-anticipated part of European religious festivals and publiccelebrations, such as the marriage of England’s Henry VII and ElizabethPlantagenet in 1486.In the United States,fireworks have been a part of the Fourth of July holiday since the firstcelebration in 1777, the year after the signing of the Declaration ofIndependence. Types of fireworksAerial fireworks are shot into the air by mortars(shells), or use their propulsion (skyrockets). Here are some of the differentfireworks and their effects: Stars: The small bits of explosive that you see scattered acrossthe sky when fireworks explodePeony: Explodes in a radial pattern, like the flowerDahlia: Like a Peony, but with fewer and larger stars Chrysanthemum: Like the peony, yet, leaves a trail ofglowing particles as it fallsCrossette: Where a Chrysanthemum’s stars would burnout, a Crossette’s stars explode into smaller pieces, creating branches acrossthe sky.Willow: To qualify, the glowing limbs must stay inthe sky for 10 seconds or more. Palm: Like a willow, but with slower-moving, slower-burningstars, resembling the limbs of a palm tree Spider: Like the Chrysanthemum, but with longer-burning, droopytails (like a spider’s leg)Fish: Creates particles that wriggle like fish across the sky. Rings: From a spherical shell, they explode into rings like theplanet Saturn. Often combined with Peonies. Time rain: Created by big, slow-burning stars thatleave trails of sizzling, sparkling stars Multi-break/Bouquet shells: A big shell containing smaller shells. Thefirst burst scatters them. Fireworksare a fun, festive, traditional way to celebrate our country’s birthday. It’simportant that kids be supervised and adults be extremely cautious. There arealways tragic injuries and sometimes even deaths attributed to fireworks, notto mention wildfires that can be sparked in dry conditions. So, have fun,enjoy, but please be careful this 4^th of July.http://triblive.com/aande/1991652-74/fireworks-camera-sky-stars-history-shutter-display-sparklers-sparkling-boathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punk_(fireworks)