29 Interesting Facts About Fireworks

Here are 29 interesting facts about Firework.

1-5 Firework Facts

1. The Walt Disney Company is the largest consumer of fireworks in the world and the second largest purchaser of explosive devices, right behind the U.S. military. – Source

2. There is around 42% decrease in air quality throughout the US on 4th July as a result of firework displays. – Source

3. Elvis Presley and his entourage would rent out roller skating rinks to throw around $15,000 worth of fireworks at each other while wearing “air force jump-suits plus gloves, helmets, and goggles.” – Source

4. Daytime fireworks are made up of colored smoke so they can be seen during the day. – Source

5. On the night Ted Bundy was executed, an estimated 2,000 celebrants sang, danced, and set off fireworks in a pasture across the street from the prison, then cheered loudly as the white hearse carrying his body left the facility. – Source

6-10 Firework Facts

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6. The cannons used in Human cannonball shows are not really cannons but catapults. Fireworks and gunpowder are used to trick people. – Source

7. Certain types of music can reduce anxiety in dogs, which can be useful during fireworks. In a study when solo piano at 50-60 bpm was played, 85% became calmer, and over half of the dogs went to sleep. – Source

8. On July 4th, 2012, San Diego had planned a 17-minute firework show but it lasted less than a minute when all the fireworks discharged simultaneously. – Source

9. The well known Disney World actor who played Gaston at the park died trying to shoot a firework off his head. – Source

10. The first-ever “astronaut” blew himself to bits trying to reach the moon with fireworks. – Source

11-15Firework Facts

11. In may 2000, a fireworks storage located in Enschede, Netherlands caught fire and eventually exploded, destroying an entire city district and killing 23. – Source

12. People employed in the manufacture of fireworks must wear cotton clothing, including undergarments. Synthetic clothing can create sparks capable of detonating fireworks. – Source

13. A disaster was caused by butterfingers in which a butterfingered fireworks factory worker dropped a box of fireworks, causing the destruction of an entire suburb. – Source

14. In May 1983, a huge explosion in a rural area of Tennessee caused damage in a miles-wide radius, killing 11. The cause was the largest known secret, unlicensed fireworks factory in US history. – Source

15. Fireworks have been outlawed in New York City for more than 100 years after it was known as a “day of carnage” due to all the deaths and injuries from setting them off. – Source

16-20 Firework Facts

16. There is a World Fireworks Championship, where international teams compete to produce the best 25-minute fireworks display set to music. – Source

17. In the late 19th century Independence Day firework related tetanus infections were so common that they became known as “patriotic tetanus,” “Fourth of July tetanus,” or “patriotic lockjaw.” – Source

18. One of “The Who” drummer Keith Moon’s drunken hobbies was to flush powerful fireworks down hotel toilets. This hobby began in 1965 when he purchased a case of 500 cherry bombs. He moved from cherry bombs to M-80 fireworks to sticks of dynamite and continued until his death in 1978. – Source

19. In the UK it is legal to buy fireworks all year and that it is also legal to use fireworks on any day of the year between 7 am – 11 pm. – Source

20. The CIA once plotted to overthrow Castro by using fireworks shot from submarines to simulate the Second Coming of Christ. – Source

21-25 Firework Facts

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21. “Penny for the Guy” is an idea that children in Britain collect money to buy fireworks for Guy Fawkes night. – Source

22. The Catherine wheel firework is named after a method of torture whereby the victim’s limbs were nailed to the spokes of a wheel and sequentially broken. The most famous victim, Saint Catherine, exploded before the torture could be inflicted. – Source

23. Italian footballer Mario Balotelli was named as firework safety ambassador in 2011 after his house was burned because fireworks were set off in his bathroom. – Source

24. Fireworks were originally invented in 7th century China, where they were believed to ward off evil spirits. – Source

25. Singapore spent over 5,000,000 USD on Fireworks for its 50th Anniversary. – Source

26-29 Firework Facts

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26. Bang snaps, the cherry shaped firework that pops when thrown on the ground, are also called “Lil Splodeys”. – Source

27. In 2013, Dubai spent around 6 million dollars to break the world record for the largest firework display. In total, they released 400,000 fireworks in a span of only 6 minutes. – Source

28. The Times Square Ball Drop started out as a firework show and evolved into the dropping of an iron/woodball down the flagpole of 1 Times Square. – Source

29. There’s a festival in Spain called “Toro embolado”, where a bulls horns and head are set ablaze with fireworks. The festival goers are then chased by the panicked bull. – Source