More information on fireworks from miltonkeynes.com

Fireworks have been used for celebrations or fending off evil spirits for a thousand years, originally as what we now know as a firecracker or ‘banger.’ Many cultures let off firecrackers at weddings etc. The tradition has its roots in the Chinese intention to drive off evil spirits with loud noises.

Fireworks before Guy Fawkes, and pyrotechnics before rock music events!

The use of fireworks in England seems to date from the 14th century. Elizabeth I seemed particularly impressed by them. Shakespeare used fireworks in the staging of some of his plays; probably what we would nowadays call ‘pyrotechnics.’ Hard to think of Shakespeare using pyrotechnics and leading the way for the stage acts of AC/DC, Rolling Stones, Iron Maiden, Kiss, and their like.

However, to most of us, fireworks mean a fun time, possibly eating around a bonfire while youngsters wave sparklers about as they try to draw things in the air.

Mr Fawkes and his inadvertent popularisation of fireworks

Ah, then there is Mr Guido Fawkes. Would humble sparklers have been able to captivate us when young were it not for Guy Fawkes being caught minding kegs of gunpowder under Parliament in 1605? Fawkes was minding what was possibly the biggest firecracker in the world...

The laws surrounding what became ‘Bonfire Night’, ‘Fireworks Night’, or ‘Guy Fawkes Night’ seem to have swung about somewhat. Within a year of the failed plot with which Fawkes was associated, Parliament passed the "Thanksgiving Act" commemorating the event, which made its commemoration mandatory until the Act was repealed in 1859. Bonfire Night and the use of fireworks; whether sparklers, firecrackers or rockets designed to light up the night sky, became a tradition rather than a requirement - which is how it stands today.

Bonfire Night can still be fun

Fireworks and Bonfire Night may be associated with fun and celebration using those sparklers, firecrackers and rockets, but there are many tales of disruption through irresponsible firework use. So much so that laws were created to control the worst excesses.

Such are the restrictions today, many prefer to attend firework (pyrotechnics) displays instead of their own firework night celebrations in their own back garden on Guy Fawkes Night, New Year, or similar.

As firework importers increased the size and power of their fireworks, their misuse led to an increase in injuries and nuisance. Laws passed more recently are quite complex, but they distil down to the following:

• no person under the age of eighteen years shall possess at firework in a public place
• the use of fireworks is not permitted between the hours of 11pm-7am except for the following:
• The first day of the Chinese New Year (11pm-1am the following day),
• Diwali (11pm-1am the following day)
• New Year’s Eve (11pm-1am the following day)
• and 5th November/’Bonfire Night’ (11pm-12 noon the following day).
• no one may supply, or agree to supply, a firework capable of 120dB or louder (fireworks specifically designed for firework displays don’t fall foul of this).

Firework exceptions

Exceptions exist surrounding licensed pyrotechnics operators, their employees (while engaged by their employer in the process of staging firework displays), and members of the armed forces engaged in the same under orders.

Indoor fireworks tend to be exempt from much of the regulations and may include sparklers.

Yes, for most of us, fireworks are linked with Bonfire Night and fun. The late, great Tommy Cooper had something to say on the subject of fireworks:
Police arrested two kids yesterday, one was drinking battery acid, the other was eating fireworks. They charged one and let the other one off.