Fireworks Blog

Italy is known for being the cradle of European fireworks. There are in Italy some types of fireworks that you can't find in any other place in the World but we will talk about them in another post. Today I will tell you the traditional name for fireworks fuse in Italy: the Spoletta or Spolette . In most countries, the fireworks time fuse is the Bickford fuse (aka safety fuse or chinese fuse) or a derivative of it. But in Italy, the tradition is to use the so called Spoletta , a fuse that is made of a tube of cardboard (multiple layers of kraft paper) with a blackpowder composition pressed inside, similar to a very small rocket motor. It works exactly as the time fuse, for the same purpose, used both in shells (usually known as "ritardo") and also in the ground to give spacing between mortar firing (known as "ripasso"), for example. In old times Spolettas where made by hand hammering a certain amount of times, but today and industrialy they are made by ...

As I am very interested in Japanese fireworks, here is another post about them. Have you noticed that most of the original Japanese fireworks ball shells casings (hemispheres) are made of newspaper? The reason is simple: although it may be also a way of recycling newspaper, it has an important effect on the explosion "perfection" due to the fact that newspaper has a moderate tensile strength and it split more uniformly during the explosion than the most used strawboard (chinese shells) and plastic (spanish, portuguese shells) casings. Here is an example of a shell made of newspaper hemispheres: Now imagine the lot of work that is needed to paste every piece of newspaper in so many layers to make these casings! Usually they are pasted on top of a wooden ball and then cut at the half. That's it, there are many characteristics of Japanese fireworks that contribute to its perfection and for sure the newspaper casings are one of them. If you like this content...

The Tradition of "Balão Fogueteiro" (fireworks balloon) in Brazil A Unique Blend of Art and Danger in Brazilian Culture Brazilian cultural traditions are rich and varied, with each region contributing its own unique practices to the national tapestry. One such tradition is the "balão fogueteiro" (fireworks balloon), a fascinating yet controversial aspect of Brazilian celebrations, particularly during the June festivals. Let's dive into the history, significance, and the modern-day challenges of this captivating tradition. The Origins of Balão Fogueteiro The tradition of releasing balloons with fireworks, known as "balão fogueteiro," dates back centuries. This practice was originally brought to Brazil by Portuguese settlers and has since become a deeply ingrained part of Brazilian folklore. The balloons, traditionally made from lightweight paper and filled with hot air, were originally used to celebrate religious festi...

Have you seen fireworks mortars with a piece of tape in it's mouth like in the picture below? There is a simple reason for that: security ! With a piece of tape in the mouth of the mortar, pyrotechnics can check if it is loaded or not. For example, think about the end of a fireworks show, pyrotechnicians have to collect the fired mortars and sometimes there are misfires (shells that have not leave the mortar for some reason), so this is an easy way to check it, because if the tape is broken of flown away it means the shell has also leave the mortar.

Fireworks are universally synonymous with celebration, but in Spain, they elevate this spectacle into an art form known as "mascletàs." Originating in the Valencian Community, these daytime pyrotechnic displays are a cultural phenomenon that encapsulate the Spanish zest for life, community, and festivity. In this blog post, we'll explore the mesmerizing world of mascletàs, delving into their history, what makes them unique, and why they are a must-experience event for anyone visiting Spain. The Origins of Mascletàs The tradition of mascletàs dates back centuries, deeply rooted in the Valencian region's history. Initially, these displays were part of religious celebrations, particularly those honoring Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. Over time, they became a staple of the Las Fallas festival in Valencia, a fiery celebration held every March to welcome the spring season. Las Fallas is a multi-day event culminating in the bur...

Hey there, fellow pyro enthusiasts! Today, let's dive into the spectacular world of fireworks cakes and unravel the mystery behind their mesmerizing displays. If you've ever marveled at a fireworks show and wondered, "How do they do that?" — you're in for a treat! Picture this: a darkened sky, anticipation crackling in the air, and suddenly, a burst of vibrant colors and patterns paints the heavens above. What you're witnessing might just be the magic of fireworks cakes in action. So, what exactly are fireworks cakes? Think of them as the maestros of the fireworks symphony, orchestrating a choreographed dance of light and sound. These multi-shot aerial fireworks are meticulously designed to deliver a series of breathtaking effects with just a single ignition. At first glance, fireworks cakes may seem like ordinary boxes, but within their modest exterior lies an intricate network of tubes, fuses, and pyrotechnic compositions waiting to ignite the ni...

Here I am again talking about the beauty of Japanese fireworks . This time, about the ascending or rising effects applied to some shells. In "Western World" the main effect of this type we can see are the rising tails (read about it here ). But in Japan , beyond that, they have also at least more 4 types of ascending effects: ascending flowers, comets, whistles, thunders (small salutes) , etc. Do you know the Japanese name for "ascending effects"? it's Kyoku-do . Kyoku-do effects are attached to the shell in a way they ignite during the lift charge explosing and keep attached to the shell during the rising. There are some important details about the manufacture of these effects, specially for the ascending flowers and thunders. The flowers usually are attached nearby because they don't have sufficient power to destroy each other or the main shell during their explosion. But for the thunders, as they use a more powerful explosive (flash powder), this pr...