Fireworks and the Fourth

For most Americans, the mention of the Fourth of July brings to mind visions of fireworks before thoughts of the Declaration of Independence. How did fireworks become so inextricably linked with this important national celebration of our nation's freedom?

The use of small explosives for celebrations is said to date to ancient China (200 B.C.E.).
The Chinese discovered the merits of something popping, scaring people, animals, and evil spirits, when they threw green bamboo into a fire while cooking. Bamboo grows quickly and air and sap are trapped inside the plant; when the air within the plant is heated, it expands, popping with a loud bang. They soon began to incorporate the use of exploding bamboo in any occasion where they wanted to scare away evil spirits. The Chinese eventually developed gunpowder, and a form of gunpowder was then used for this purpose.

In the United States, some think that John Adams' letter of July 2, 1776, where he predicts that the holiday of independence would one day be "celebrated...as the great anniversary festival...with bonfires and illuminations..." is a reference to the use of fireworks during this very early time in the nation's history. Adams actually was referring to the custom of using candles to light buildings and plazas -- quite dramatic in a day before streetlights.

Fireworks were not used in the first celebrations of Independence Day because their use required advance planning and the materials were costly -- people in the newly formed nation did not have cash to spare for such purposes. As the country grew a little older, cities began featuring fireworks celebrations, but rural areas relied on firing guns, setting off cannons, or "firing an anvil," a somewhat risky process that involved two anvils and a fuse to ignite gunpowder, which "launched" one of the anvils, creating a cannon-like bang when the top anvil landed again on the bottom anvil.

As might be anticipated, fires, deaths, and bodily injuries were part of many celebrations. As early as the 19th century, fire departments and volunteers were on heightened alert around the holiday. In 1866, Portland, Maine suffered massive destruction from a fire that resulted from fireworks. In 1873 the editor of Frank Leslie's Sunday Magazine wrote an editorial suggesting that children donate to the needy the money they normally were given to spend on fireworks. However, most Americans, than and now, feel that it is an American right to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that in 2007 about 9,800 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms for July 4-related injuries. More than half the injuries were burns and most of the injuries involved the hands, eyes, and legs; children 10 to 14 years old had the highest per capita injury rate among all age groups.

In the interests of safety, two relatively recent developments have occurred. The federal government bans the sale of the most dangerous types of fireworks, and a few states have tried to ban their sale totally, but neighboring states are very likely to set up stands just over the state border to facilitate sale to those who care deeply enough to transport the contraband across state lines.

Public displays have also been instituted as a safer alternative to backyard fireworks. While most members of the public are safe during commercial displays, many release high levels of pollutants, depending on the composition of the fireworks. In 2004 Disneyland in Anaheim began launching fireworks using compressed air rather than gunpowder, which reduced smoke and fumes from the big displays.

Though we live in a country that regulates safety in everything from food to children's sleepwear, we still celebrate the beginning of our existence as an independent nation by setting off explosives. Though the beauty of fireworks against the night sky is incomparable, maybe we ought to be satisfied with good friends, good food, and an annual renewal of resolve to do some form of volunteer work to "make the world a better place." We live in the greatest country in the world, and there are plenty of safe, nonpolluting ways to celebrate that. What do you think would be a fitting celebration of our freedoms?

www.americacomesalive.com

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Comments

[Joshua Sophy]

Here is more on fireworks safety: http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/7595

[Kate Kelly - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you for adding these specifics.

Happy Fourth to all.

We're very fortunate to live in a free land where discussions like this can take place...just one of our many freedoms, thanks to the founding fathers.

[Free Speech]

(my comments continued)

Compared to other products we use or even our children use such as bicycle, skateboard, rollerblades, playground equipment, etc., , firework injuries hardly make a dent. This doesn’t mean that things can’t improve, but if we want to expend our efforts on behalf of making the biggest impact on child as well as adult safety, there are many more products that you could be focusing on. Another point is that as long as states ban fireworks, they have lost the ability to teach how to safely use them. Education on the safe use of fireworks will go much further to reduce injuries and accidents than banning fireworks.

In my discussions with state and federal fire officials, they have indicated to me that fireworks have a very small impact on fires in this country or state. The biggest culprits are lightning, cars, trains, cigarettes, and campfires.

I’m all for the use of fireworks in celebrating our independence. They are beautiful and fun when properly and safely used. It truly is unfortunate, that when we are celebrating our independence from tyranny, so many want to place us in bondage through legislative nonsense. We don’t need more government telling us what we can and can’t do, we need more of government out of our lives.

[Kate Kelly - Huffpost Blogger]

I totally hear you and I appreciate your comments. I started out researching the association of fireworks with the fourth and when I reached the "safety" conclusion I did, I was sort of horrified.
But even after reading your well-presented argument in favor of fireworks, I still feel that even one extra injury to a young child or one extra fire is too much. We were in Colorado for one July 4 and the fire dept had to check the roof of the home where we were visiting after a public display had accidentally been aimed that direction. Losing your home so others can celebrate? Not fun.
My kids will tell you I am no fan of candles so my article was not suggesting candles as a substitute for celebrations today but what about helping out in a community garden on July 4 instead of feeling the need to set off explosives? Or cooking for friends? Or going to hear a band? There are actually a lot of fun and safe alternatives!

Thanks for posting!

























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[Free Speech]

Then I'm sort of horrified that you don't feel that we should ban bicycles, skateboards, waverunners, automobiles, etc. I mean after all, if it saves only one life or keeps one person from injury, then it will have been worth it given your argument.
What I am getting at here, is that life itself has its risks. Cigarettes burn down more houses than fireworks, kids playing with matches, faulty gas lines, and hundreds of other things cause more fires and injuries than fireworks. Are you recommending that we do away with any and all aspects of our society in order to protect ourselves and our properties?
Fireworks have been a part of the Independence Day celebration from long before your great grandparents were alive. It is sad when someone is injured, it is sad when a unnecessary fire is started. But it's this attitude that people want to protect society from itself that has turned governments into a nanny-states.

[Free Speech]

Safety education and training will do more to reduce injuries and fires with fireworks more than banning will do. Banning causes people to use fireworks in dry grass fields or used behind the barns or in other areas more susceptible to fires and injuries. In banning fireworks, governments have tied their own hands about educating the public (the very people they should be educating) on how to safely use them. If they taught how to safely use fireworks that were banned, they would be giving their implied consent.
I see cities and towns all across America setting up skateboarding areas and bike paths where people can more safely use these devices. What's wrong with providing safety courses in using fireworks and providing a safe environment to use them around the 4th of July and other holidays?
One more thing...I live next door to a professional pyrotechnician and fireman. Last year at a professional firework show. He told me that the show caused 10 separate little fires. Other cities also had fires caused by professional shows, some burning acres of land. It happens. Unfortunately firemarshals do not keep track of what injuries and fires are caused by professional shows vs. personal use by citizens. The statistics are all rolled into one. So next time you or some public official starts quoting statistics on fireworks, you may want to ask them to differentiate between the two. They most likely can't. I have been doing my homework for years.

[Free Speech]

I would have to disagree with you Kate Kelly. Fireworks have become a tradition with the 4th of July, the same as parades, bbq’s, etc. Whether “illuminations” in John Adams letter refers to candles in windows or fireworks is irrelevant. Fireworks have “become” a tradition that has existed for over 200 years. This country’s holidays have all evolved over time. With so many cultures immigrating to the US, these cultures have all brought in the richness and diversity to our own culture and to the holidays we all celebrate. I think that going back and placing candles in our windows to celebrate Independence Day would be more dangerous than continuing our current use of fireworks.

As far as injury statistics you quote from the CPSC, you fail to give anything close to an accurate picture. Here are some links that may help you see fireworks in a different light.
http://www.pyrouniverse.com/stats.htm
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/top_story/20090624_State-line_firequirks__Pa__stores__by_law__cater_only_to_nonresidents.html
Even the CPSC has indicated a decline in injuries: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09258.html

[rockwood]

wow I didnt know bamboo would do that! very cool to find out the origins of all these customs... great back stories of our great history.

[Kate Kelly - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for reading! I'll keep digging. How about the tradition of house-to-house mail delivery? I'm looking into that and will post later this summer.

[BKearney]

I agree totally, we should also give up eating turkey on Thanksgiving and having a tree at Chrismas. All three of these silly traditions are dangerous and add to global pollution.

[Kate Kelly - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for reading---and you are right, so much of what we do around holidays is wasteful.