America’s 250th anniversary will take place on July 4, 2026. For many, this means gathering in the evening to witness dazzling displays of fireworks. Displays will vary, from elaborate stadium shows to family and friends simply lighting Roman candles in the backyard. 

But this Fourth of July staple is eight times older than America itself. Its story stretches back more than two thousand years, evolving with each generation before becoming part of America’s biggest celebration.

The earliest sparks of fireworks

While some historians think the earliest adaptations go back to the Middle East or India, the general consensus credits an accidental discovery in China around the first century B.C.

As the story goes, roasted bamboo exploded with a bang due to its hollow air pockets, becoming a natural firecracker of sorts. They became a go-to tool for warding off wild animals and evil spirits.

Then, between 600 and 900 A.D., came the discovery of gunpowder in a supposed alchemical quest for immortality. While the sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate didn’t provide eternal life, it did put on quite a show under extreme heat. The then-novel substance was stuffed into........

© Upworthy