"Wot No Handel?"

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Firework are said to owe their existence to a Chinese monk named Li Tian, who lived near the city of Liuyang in Hunan province, about 1,000 years ago. He is said to have come up with the idea of inserting gunpowder into the hollow of a bamboo stick: when thrown into a fire, the gases produced by the ignited powder caused an immense build-up of pressure and blasted the tube apart.

The Chinese believed that the bang was powerful enough to scare off evil spirits, and incorporated firecrackers into many of their religious events.

For many people, the noise is as much a part of Bonfire Night as the visuals. There are a number of fireworks that are made specifically to create noise. “Hummers” are tiny tubes, sent spinning into the air with such force that they shred their outer coating, whizzing and buzzing as they go. Or the “whistle”, which creates a high-pitched scream as the powder burns down a long tube.

I guess you were expecting a classical piece of music by Handel.

Sorry to disappoint you. I don't have a copy.

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For many others this whole week’s misguided, medieval, attempt to “scare off evil spirits” is a period of unkind and unnecessary suffering.

Not only for the frail and nervous, the babies and elderly trying to sleep, but also for those amongst us that have no voice to object.

I speak on their behalf.

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"BANG".

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PS I took that photo about five weeks ago. I had just treated myself to a new duvet and as I struggled to get it into the cover, Hazel joined in the fun. She was not hiding from fireworks as I wouldn't have used flash had she been frightened.

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