Fireworks and New Year's wishes shine brightly.

At midnight, as the clock strikes 12, we hear the deafening roar of fireworks exploding in a dazzling display of vibrant colors. This is a long-standing tradition in many countries around the world , including Vietnam, signifying the farewell to the old year and the hope for a new year filled with good fortune and joy for every household.

The spectacular fireworks displays that we marvel at during holidays and festivals are actually quite simple in construction, consisting of explosives, propellants, and a few other additives. When launched into the sky, they create incredibly breathtaking and magnificent sights with many eye-catching colors and interesting, vibrant shapes. According to historians, fireworks were invented more than 2000 years ago, around the 2nd century BC in ancient China.

Back then, firecrackers were simply bamboo tubes that exploded spontaneously due to the air pockets within the bamboo when thrown into a fire. While these weren't truly fireworks, they were the primitive origin of what we know today.

Around 600-900 AD, an oral tradition emerged about a Chinese alchemist who mixed potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal to create a black powder mixture contained in bamboo sticks, which, when exposed to fire, would explode into fireworks considered the first in human history.

In those times, fireworks were used by the Chinese in exorcism rituals, religious festivals, or New Year celebrations because they believed they could ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune to families. Later, around the 13th century, they were introduced to Western countries through trade and exploration from Europe to China. They then became popular throughout the continent in the 16th century. Notably, England was the country that brought fireworks to all its colonies, contributing to their widespread recognition across many continents. However, if you were to witness fireworks from that era, you would realize they weren't particularly dazzling, as it wasn't until around 1830 that Italian inventors discovered how to create the colorful and beautiful fireworks we see today.

Over more than 2000 years of development, modern fireworks displays have been upgraded to become more aesthetically pleasing, diverse, and safe. Therefore, they have become a unique and indispensable part of New Year's Eve celebrations in most major cities around the world. Some locations considered to have the most spectacular New Year's Eve displays include Sydney, Australia; London, England; Singapore; and in recent years, even outside of New Year's Day, the fireworks festival in Da Nang, Vietnam, has gained international recognition. In Sydney, fireworks explode right at the location of the famous Opera House, with hundreds of fireworks launched simultaneously into the sky, continuously and without interruption, like a dazzling light show.

In Singapore, the farewell to the old year was equally spectacular, taking place right at Marina Bay. Fireworks were launched from various locations around the bay, creating a breathtaking spectacle for viewers. However, there's certainly no better place to watch fireworks than with family and loved ones by your side. No matter where you go in the world, gathering with family, watching the dazzling fireworks, and experiencing the sacred moment of the New Year's transition with loved ones is the most beautiful and memorable experience.

Fireworks are chosen by many countries as a way to welcome the new year not only for their spectacular beauty but also for the important spiritual values ​​they embody during the sacred moment of midnight. The resounding bursts of fireworks are the clearest and most resounding announcement of the end of the old year, and their positive, colorful atmosphere carries our wishes, hopes, joy, and excitement into a new year filled with peace and happiness.

Heritage Magazine