Pyrotechnics Important Events

Bonfire night in Britain

In 1605 Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators attempted to blow up the British Parliament with 36 barrels of gunpowder in the cellars of Westminster Hall. On 5 November, Fawkes was arrested and Parliament was saved. That night is now celebrated as bonfire night by filling the sky with exploding fireworks, and by burning an effigy of Guy Fawkes on a bonfire.

Licensing for firework sellers has recently been introduced in the United Kingdom. Fireworks cannot be sold to people under the age of 18 and setting them off between 11pm and 7am is only allowed at specific times of the year, including New Year and Bonfire night.

Independence Day in the United States

Each year before the American Independence Day, the Fourth of July, retail fireworks stands spring up around the nation in states that do not severely restrict or outright ban all fireworks for safety reasons (such as Nevada). Popular types of legal use-at-home fireworks include:

* Roman candles
* Fountain batteries
* Sparklers
* "Snakes" (turn to ash)
* Saturn missile batteries
* Smoke bombs (not an actual explosive)

Note that South Carolina sells slightly more explosive fireworks in addition to these popular types; these are usually referred to as "firecrackers". Interestingly, South Carolina also sells fireworks at stands year-round.

Because of the hodge-podge of different regulations in the various U.S. states, many towns at or near state borders set up shop in order to attract customers from areas where fireworks are restricted. A similar situation can happen with Native American tribes that have reservation lands. They often sell firecrackers that are not legal for sale outside of the reservation. Such firecracker types include, but are not limited to:

* Cherry bombs
* M-80 firecrackers
* M-100 firecrackers
* M-1000 firecrackers
* "Black cat" rolls
* Mortar tubes
* Bottle rockets

Note that actual ownership or sale of true cherry bombs, M-80 style salutes, or any firecracker in excess of 50 milligrams of powder is a violation of federal law (1966 Child Protection Act). Native Americans, like any other U.S. citizen, are not exempt from federal law. However, 50 mg of powder is likely more than is used even in the most powerful firecrackers.

New Year's Eve in Western Europe

In Western Europe the use of fireworks by the general public is usually restricted to a few hours after midnight on New Year's eve.

Although it is now just a custom to fire off fireworks on New-Year's eve, in the past the idea was to scare 'bad forces' so they would not enter the new year. As a consequence the most popular fireworks are still those that go off with a big bang or with a bright flash.

The retail of fireworks in Western Europe is also restricted, but the limitations differ from country to country. In the Netherlands for example the sale of fireworks is restricted to a few days before New-Year's eve, but in Belgium the sale of fireworks is legal throughout the year. Also the fireworks sold in Belgium contain more gunpowder than is allowed in the Netherlands. This leads to some illegal trafficking of fireworks from Belgium to the Netherlands.