Get the facts on fireworks

It's that time of year again, when warm weather brings on celebrations, parades, carnivals, and other events that take place under the summer sky. Fireworks seem tailor-made for warm weather festivities -- their spectacle of loud booms and awe-inspiring twinkling lights adding to the enjoyment.

Although many towns and cities across the country coordinate fireworks displays, their prevalence doesn't necessarily mean personal firework use is legal. To avoid hefty fines, individuals should learn if firework use is legal in their area.

Fireworks are said to have originated in China some 2,000 years ago. Fireworks may have been discovered on pure chance, when a cook mixed combustible ingredients, now commonly found in fireworks, and they exploded. True credit to fireworks is given to a Chinese monk named Li Tian, who lived during the Song Dynasty. The Chinese people celebrate the invention of the firecracker every April 18 by offering sacrifices to Li Tian.

In Chinese culture, fireworks were used to ward off evil spirits thought to be frightened by the loud noises and spectacles. Fireworks are commonly set off for special events, like births and deaths. They're also integral during Chinese New Year to usher in a new year free of evil.

Firework gunpowder was brought to Europe by explorers, but was used mainly by the military. The English did eventually become fascinated with Chinese fireworks, and the trend to set them off began during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

As time progressed and fireworks became popular in the United States, greater scrutiny was placed on their manufacture and safety. By the late 1980s, the government was unimpressed by inadequate safety information placed on the fireworks imported from China. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Pyrotechnics Association set to right information on packaging and set up stricter regulations on fireworks use.

Although fireworks remain a popular celebration spectacle, they are not legal in every state. Furthermore, some states ban certain fireworks depending on type and size. Some people cross state lines to purchase fireworks, and being caught in possession of illegal fireworks can result in a prison sentence.

In Canada, fireworks are legal and readily available. However, it's best to check with local by-law offices to find out the specifics of firework use.

Fireworks have a storied history and can make celebrations remarkable when they are used safely and in accordance with local laws.