5 replies to this topic

[David]

Title is directly taken from an upcoming article in Fireworks Magazine, which I hope to read soon!

But yeah- Thoughts?

Has the "Magic" somehow gone out of buying fireworks? For sure, fireworks seem bigger and better- well, they ARE bigger and better, than the used to be, but never the less, there did seem something special about buying individual fountains from a glass cabinet in a newsagents!

That said, much more recently I have still been very impressed going into a shop and seeing new, innovative ranges too!

The rise of You Tube and broadband has meant that fireworks can be watched online, displays planned in advance and co-ordinated, and the quality of Cat 3 in the UK has allowed me to put on some really nice displays.

[phildunford]

Have not seen the article yet, but my answer is an unequivocal YES.

Nothing can beat looking in the glass case and picking out all those things you can afford and then arranging them on the floor every day until bonfire night!

Yes, the performance of modern fireworks is better, but they are brash and violent and all the romance has gone.

That's one of the many reason I make my own of course...

[David]

Yes, the performance of modern fireworks is better, but they are brash and violent and all the romance has gone.

There are still a few pretty/pleasant ones, but you won't find them in the mish-mashed Buy one get one free nonsense selection boxes though!

There are some nice garden pieces still around- pretty little flares, some pleasant violet and purple effects, some good snow-storm style fountains, but these are a small minoirty, lost amongst the crackle/bit of red combos that seem to dominate.

[Rip Rap]

Have not seen the article yet, but my answer is an unequivocal YES.

Nothing can beat looking in the glass case and picking out all those things you can afford and then arranging them on the floor every day until bonfire night!

Yes, the performance of modern fireworks is better, but they are brash and violent and all the romance has gone.

That's one of the many reason I make my own of course...

Couldnt agree more! When you could buy single fireworks (from a banger up to large set pieces) it was great. You could assemble your own personal selection box. Multiples of the same firework were only there because you liked them & WANTED the same firework more than once.

[Thudkaboom]

I don't think the magic has gone, I just think the magic is much more real when you're younger. My childhood memories of looking through shop windows, gawping into class cabinets and sniffing a freshly opened selection box was magic in the most undeniable sense. Nowadays, as I understand much more and have an insight of manufacturing processes, chemistry and marketing ploys, the magic has suffered a dilution as a result of me knowing this.
Back then, the colourful gaudy packaging was as enchanting to me as the sprites which lay dormant inside each tube, cone and spiral. Only to be woken by the slightest caress of a woven cotton safety wick.
It's true that much of the traditional style print designs have been pushed off the shelf by glossier computer generated wrappers donning names and images of a darker nature. It's evoloution. Things never stay the same regardless of how much we may dislike the change. I believe kids today experience that same magic we all did at their age. To them, fireworks are essentialy the same strange and magical objects invoking fear and wonder as they always have been to us, and long may it be so.

[teaboy]

Nah, you're all just miserable old gits!