In A Flash
Time sure is flying! The 4th of July is only a week and a half away! There will soon be fireworks and barbecues everywhere! What better way to celebrate our nation’s declaration of independence! Growing up an Army brat, I remember the gorgeous displays of fireworks Fort Leonard Wood would put on. Now living in the Tampa Bay area, we watch the city’s pyrotechnics display and it’s absolutely exhilarating. There’s nothing like seeing flashing lights and colors adorning the night sky.
It turns out that fireworks were originally invented to scare away evil spirits in ancient China back in the 12th century because of the loud sound they make. The Chinese also are the inventors of gunpowder, and are the largest manufacturer and exporter of fireworks in the world. The very first celebration of Independence Day in the United States was in 1777. It happened to be six years before the Americans even knew whether the new nation would survive the war.
I was absolutely amazed to discover that fireworks are really big on Halloween in Ireland and Canada! However, the sale of fireworks is strongly restricted in the Republic of Ireland! Many illegal fireworks are sold throughout October. There is a large black market for them in Northern Ireland and are often smuggled. The punishment for possessing fireworks, having or lighting them in public without a license is a €10,000 fine for possessing them, and/or a five year prison sentence. Goodness! How lucky we are in the U.S.! We get grumpy when there’s been a drought and aren’t allowed to set them off.
I was at a party last year where alcohol and fireworks were just not a good mix! I hear Disney has an awesome display as well. I’ve had tickets for Disney World since 1998 and still haven’t pulled myself away from the daily grind to make it over there to see them! One of these days! Well, no matter what your plans for the 4th of July this year, if you have a little one with you, it may be a very good, life saving idea to have a child safety leash on them. As we all know, it only takes a second when we amongst large crowds of people to have them be gone in a flash.
