Sparklers
Is it really a true firework party without sparklers? In our opinion, absolutely not! These essentials to any bonfire night party, birthday cake presentation or just about any other firework celebration date back hundreds if not thousands of years. And they’re still bringing huge smiles to children’s faces today.
Where and when did sparklers start fizzing?
Like most things fireworks-related, we think that they originally date back to 6th-century China. However, the first records of a hand-held firework date back to the Egyptian town of Heliopolis and an architect called Callinicos. He created a hand-held firework similar to a small Roman Candle called a ‘cheirosiphon’. As there was plenty of trade going on between China and this part of the world during the 6th century AD, there’s a good chance that he could’ve got the idea from Chinese sailors celebrating Chinese New Year. He thought, “Now that looks like fun!” and came up with his own variation.
And so down through the centuries, handheld fireworks have developed into the modern sparkler we all know and love today.
We should say at this point that at Ghengis Fireworks, we all think that Callinicos was absolutely bonkers to try holding onto a firework, and it’s something you should never, EVER do.
Modern sparklers – a family favourite
From OTT Independence Day celebrations in the USA to writing your name in the air on Bonfire Night, sparklers now form a key part of celebrations all year round. At Ghengis Fireworks, we believe in bigger is better, so we stock large golden sparklers that’ll light up any garden party. But no matter what size sparkler you go for, there are a few rules to follow to keep everyone safe.
- Never leave children unattended with sparklers.
- Always hold the sparkler at arm’s length.
- Have a bucket of water ready so you can drop the spent sparkler into cold water.
- Never touch the metal core, even after the sparkler has gone out. They may be small but these are still fireworks and they generate a huge amount of heat. Always remember that the metal core will still be very hot (hence the bucket of water).
- Never run with or throw sparklers.
- Wear gloves to protect your hands, and only light one sparkler at a time.
A great way to teach kids about firework safety
Sparklers are a chance to teach children about the importance of firework safety at a young age. Not only are they great fun, but with careful coaching, you can instruct kids on the right way to behave around fireworks so that they use them safely. With a little bit of effort, you can make sure that your kids enjoy fireworks for the rest of their lives, and pass on that respect for fireworks to their children years from now.
Find out more about sparklers
We’re always here to answer your questions at Ghengis Fireworks. So if you have any queries, want to know more about handling sparklers safely, or any other information on any of the fireworks we carry, simply give us a call and chat with one of our friendly team today.
