源于中国文化且发明于7世纪的烟花，可在中国的诸多节日中看到并已跨越长城蔓延到其他国家。
与此同时，烟花也促进了9世纪中国人发明的黑火药，而该发明在公元1044年的宋朝军事书籍《武经总要》中记载的是发明于11世纪。该书中所描述的黑火药主要包括硝酸钠、硫磺以及木炭成分。
就用途而言，通过进一步的创新与改进，黑火药具有一定的保卫功能，从古至以至今后的许多年，它虽然可以在战争中起到保护自己、团体以及国家的作用，但是也有可能成为攻击他人的武器。
从另一角度而言，烟花带来声、光、烟以及空中漂浮物等附加物。直到17世纪中期，烟花才在欧洲盛行。在许多国家，烟花被用来达到美学效果、文化以及宗教的目的，比如，许多国家都以此来庆祝国庆节和新年；如今，烟花早已商业化，得到许可后可在街边销售。
从过去单一的品种发展到后来由4种声响、16种金属合成的9种色彩以及22种特效，可见，绚丽的烟花从唐朝开始就受到古代中国帝王、平民以至全世界人们的青睐，人们乐在其中。只要经济允许则可创造出更多的烟花组合。
2013年最后一天的晚上，和家人一起享受丰盛的晚餐后，我们第一次在香港港湾亲身感受了烟花燃放过程中带给这个特殊节日的壮观景象。另外，我和家人在除夕夜的晚上也放了一些烟花并为元宵节时将要燃放的炮竹做了充足的准备。
去年，据中国新闻社报道，考虑到大气污染现状，北京市民应在过年期间减少燃放烟花炮竹。我也确实看到在新年的0：00手机上显示北京的空气质量指数已达444。
今年你点燃了多少烟花炮竹呢？
Deeply rooted in the culture of China, fireworks were invented there in the 7th century, accompanying many festivities and ultimately spreading beyond the Great Wall of China to other cultures and societies.
Fireworks also led to the invention of black powder or gun powder in China during the 9th century with records of formula dating from the Song dynasty in the military book “The Essentials of the Military Arts” or “Wujing Zongyao”, written in 1044. There, gun powder was described as containing mainly saltpetre, sulphur, and charcoal.
In terms of usage, through innovations and advancements, gun powder has helped, it is helping and will still help individuals, groups and countries not only defend themselves in the event of aggressions, but unfortunately may also help attack others.
In opposition, fireworks’ outputs are in the forms of sound, light, smoke and floating materials. It is only in the mid-17th century that fireworks became popular in Europe. In many countries, fireworks have been used for aesthetic, cultural, and religious purposes such as celebrating National days and the New Year in different countries; nowadays, fireworks have also become commercialized where “regulated” stands are selling them in the street.
Simple fireworks have entertained Chinese emperors from the Tang dynasty and its people, and are entertaining the mass across the world with more complex content through 4 types of noises, 9 colors produced with the usage of 16 metals and 22 types of effects. Endless combinations are possible, only limited by financial considerations.
For the first time I have enjoyed live the 2014 New Year’s eve fireworks from the Hong Kong harbor with family members after a good diner on the harbor side. I also set off some fireworks at the beginning of the Chinese New Year with family members and plan to set a last few more at the end to celebrate the Yuanxiao festival, also know as the Lantern festival on the 15th day of the new year.
Last year, the China News Service reported that residents Beijing were asked to reduce fireworks during the Chinese New Year festival due to record air pollution. Indeed, I recall that at midnight on Chinese New Year eve, my phone indicated an Air Quality Index in Beijing of 444 (which sounds like “die, die, die” in Chinese).
How many fire crackers have you lit this year?
