The art of pyrotechnics, dating back millennia
History of Márcio Farias - Viseu, Portugal
The art of pyrotechnics, dating back millennia, had its origins in ancient China, where natives threw pieces of green bamboo into bonfires during festivities to scare away evil spirits with loud sounds. Later, Chinese alchemists created gunpowder by mixing saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal, initially looking for an elixir of eternal life, but ended up using it in fireworks. This practice spread across Europe and the United States, becoming an integral part of celebrations. Originally orange, the fireworks acquired vibrant colors after the addition of metals by Italian inventors in 1830. The colors of the fireworks are determined by the compounds used, such as barium chloride for green, magnesium for silver, lithium for red and sodium for yellow.
