Fireworks: Global Celebration

Most entertainment technologies invented over the past 800 years have failed to stand the test of time. We may be momentarily charmed by a clockwork or shadow play, but they pale quickly against rapid-fire visual stimulation we consume daily in the 21st century. Fireworks, however, remain as arresting and thrilling as they were when the Chinese invented them in 12th century. Tonight the American people will stare up into skies bursting into color in celebration of our Independence. Part of me will be thinking about a much longer tradition, one in which people around the world over the last 800 years ooohh and aaahh over the beauty and magic of fireworks.


Nightime festivities with fireworks attending the rise of the Nile
Published in Sandy's "Relation of a Journey begun An Dom. 1610..."
second edition, 1621. Copper engraved print


Celebrating with Fireworks
Hashim II (Mughal, Delhi)
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper, ca. 1635
6 3/32 in. x 8 13/16 in. (15.5 cm x 22.4 cm)
San Diego Museum of Art Edwin Binney 3d Collection


Fireworks Display in London as the Nation Rejoices in 1763
Chez Mondhare, Paris: c. 1763
Hand-colored engraving, 9.25 x 15.25 inches, image


'Boating and Fireworks on the Sumida River', 1770s
Utagawa Toyoharu (1735-1814)
Uki-e ('floating picture' or 'perspective print'), nishiki-e (brocade print)
Signature: Utagawa Toyoharu ga, Publisher: Nishimuraya Yohachi
V&A, Museum no. E.652-1901


'Projet du feu d'artifice tiré à Versailles en présence de sa majesté Louis XV, le 15 mai 1771, à l'occasion du mariage de Monseigneur le comte de Provence et de Marie-Joséphine de Savoie' (or: Fireworks Display at the Palace of Versailles), 1771
Centre de recherche du château de Versailles


'Plan du feu d'artifice projeté à l'occasion du passage de Napoléon
Bonaparte à Marseillle en l'an 13. Trouvé en 1M528 du Cabinet du Préfet'
Archives Départementales des Bouches-du-Rhône

UPDATE:
I spent the evening of this 4th of July on a hilltop in Echo Park. While it has a perfect view of fireworks shot off from Dodger Stadium, no large coordinated display seemed to be going on there this year. Instead we were treated to a cacaphony of independence, surrounded by small bands of people shooting off contraband fireworks.They came from all directions, much larger and elaborate then I would have expected. A few red flares went up as well, beautiful in their slow descent from the sky. At some point the police helipcopters arrived using both megaphone and spotlight to say "no fireworks." But their independence of spirit would not be tamed.