Fawkes was unable to set off his gunpowder but  we can  still do it for him today! 
This venting and assertion of a reminder of "people" power remains an important aspect of the celebration. I remember that as a youth in London at my first Bonfire night celebration I heard an elderly neighbor shout "take that Harold" as he launched a substantial bottle rocket - referring to the then Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Fireworks lighting up the nights sky combine their burning smell with that of the fall leaves  to produce a wonderful effect. Below you can read a history of fireworks and then an account of one memorable early firework display.
Just Click:  History of Fireworks   An Early Fireworks Display.  To read of fireworks chemicals and their effects click here  There is a special section about the history of fireworks in Britain click here. Read the British Fireworks Code for safety click here.  Click here for the explosives fireworks legislation Northern Ireland 1999. For England see Fireworks Safety Legislation 1997 click here.   For a piece against gunpowder celebrations click here.

A Short History of Fireworks
Pyrotechnics may have evolved in medieval China. Chinese alchemists experimented  chemicals searching for  an elixir of life. They knew that saltpeter gave energy to fire. Around A.D. 850  the mineral was combined  with charcoal and sulfur. The result was the magic of gunpowder.

 The invention did not change Chinese society. The Chinese used gunpowder only for celebration as well as for military purposes.  They invented flame throwing fire lances and exploding war rockets at an early date. The Chinese never had a true gun. The method of making war did not change. As early as the twelfth century huo yao,or "fire drug," was used in China for pleasurable activities.

  Gunpowder reached Europe in the thirteenth century, where  it inspired the cannon.  At the same  time, birth of pyrotechnics occurred, probably by the fifteenth century. They were used in pageants and celebrations throughout Europe. fireworks as such probably arrived in the 14th century, brought back from the East by Crusaders, and they rapidly became a form of international entertainment. The first record of  fireworks  in England comes from the description of  the wedding of Henry VII in 1486.  During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I fireworks became very popular. Shakespeare describes.  Queen Elizabeth created a "Fire Master of England". James II knighted his firemaster.

 Three basic gunpowder tools that still provide most of the effects we see today were soon developed.  First  powder was contained  in a closed case. When the case is lit with a fuse a  sudden burning creates gas which explodes the container. This process created  the firecracker, the larger "salute," or  bursting shells of an in aerial displays. 

Through  packing  powder into a tube closed at only one end,  hot gases, flame, and sparks rushed out the other. This  became  a fountain of fire or squib.  In fifteenth century Florence and Siena, large plaster figures which  spewed fire from their eyes and mouths were designed in this way. If the tube was reversed,  expanding gas moved it forward , creating a rocket. 

  Eventually a projectile was rammed  down on top of the powder in a closed end pipe. This became a gun or mortar the primary tool for launching aerial fireworks today.

 Once handmade throughout Europe and the United States most fireworks are now imported from China.

 In their beginnings fireworks were used as  theatrical effects during pageants involving dragons, giants, and enchanted islands. Italians,
 first developed fireworks in Europe . Their favorite pyrotechnics were  elaborate facades called temples or machines which stood behind for the pyrotechnic fountains, rockets, and Roman candles. These were popular for saints days and religious celebrations.   The eighteenth century is known as the golden age of classical fireworks. In the early 1700s the Ruggieri brothers, moved  from Bologna to France to work at  the court of Louis XV. Great performances were created at Versailles. It was  in Paris, that  Thomas  Jefferson first saw displays created by the Ruggieris. It was also in the 18th century that fireworks were accompanied by music. Handel is famous for his Royal Fireworks Music. Unfortunately the firework display for which he composed the music was a disaster.

Fireworks came to  the United States  as early as 1608.   Capt. John Smith "fired a few rockets" in that year  to impress the natives at the Jamestown colony. During  the Revolution John Adams, wrote a letter to his wife, which  predicted that the signing of the Declaration of Independence would be always celebrated with "bonfires and illuminations from this time forward forevermore." He was referring to the  illumination of buildings and public squares with candles in windows and on walls. But fireworks  soon did become a Fourth of July institution. Skyrockets were used in the celebrations at Newport in 1781, and Boston had its first  Independence Day fireworks display in 1805. 

The modern science of pyrotechnics was established by the 1700s. . Shells, then known as   balloons, burst making  patterns of fire, sparks, and darting
"fisgigs." The caduceus was a rocket which went into the sky  leaving a spiral trail. Ground displays included  fountains, suns, and trees of flame.
Rockets were created  that leaped in and out of the water in forms such as:  dolphins and wheels that changed through as many as  fifteen patterns. An early text provides directions for making  "silver and gold raine". This was accomplished by  filling thousands of goose quills with powder and putting  them  into the head of a rocket. 

Early classical fireworks lacked color. Granulated charcoal left a trail of  orange sparks. Iron filings would glow white. Chemicals like amber would color flames with  pastels. There were no deep colors and colors on the whole were few in number.

Skyrockets were the most popular aspects of early shows. Rockets hold their own fuel  when  they are launched  into the sky. When the fuel is exhausted, the rocket's "garniture" explodes.  This sets off  reports,  a spray of stars or serpents. But skyrockets are not often used today.  They must be lighter than shells shot from a gun, and they can not be shot accurately. They also need  long wooden shafts to keep on course, and these can be dangerous when they fall.
 

Modern rich colors were invented the 1830s.  Ruggieri descendants  first  made  stars using potassium chlorate. This chemical makes the  metal salts  glow with distinctive colors. Copper make  blue,  strontium red, barium green. Other colors are also possible.  Refined metals to would also help to brighten  effects. This practice started  with magnesium which was used first  in the 1860s. By 1900  powdered aluminum was used to create a cheap brightness. English pyrotechnician Alan St. Hill Brock wrote:  "Its advent opened a new era of the art," 

At first Hand-firing was dangerous. The fuses burn quickly, leave the  shooter  only a little time to get away before the explosion .  Shells can blow up before going high enough into the air. This is called a  "low break" .  Shells being prepared for loading have killed shooters when they exploded ignited by sparks from other launches.

 Rain has always been a problem. When it was about to rain  on the Fourth of July in 1876  upon a massive display planned  for Fairmont Park in Philadelphia to celebrate the nation's centennial shooters were forced to start the show all at once:
"The whole range of fireworks, including temples, gigantic portraits of Washington, mounds, volcanoes, stars,  patriotic mottoes, pyramids, and other structures, all on a scale  never before seen in America, must be discharged at once or never discharged at all." The show was still a success.

The re-enactment of battles in fireworks  on both land and sea was very popular in the 19th century.  Fireworks with no scenery whatever were also popular.   Wooden and bamboo frames covered with pyrotechnic and were called "Set Pieces"/ These included  lances that painted  pictures in fire. The Brock family of England were famous for their set pieces.  In the 1880s important persons  such as the king of the Maoris or the Shah of Persia were treated to their own portraits  eighty feet high in colored fire. Once when a Brock piece did not fire properly a portrait of  Queen Victori winked lewdly at the crowd! 

English pyrotechnician Henry J. Pain created  historical scenes while in the United States.  Pain built amphitheater at Manhattan Beach, in Brooklyn in the area of  Coney Island where  the audience could  watch actors run  in togas while a  Mount Vesuvius erupted.  In 1883 a year after  the British fleet had  shelled Alexandria; Pain's audiences could see the battle re-enacted in fireworks along with the drama created by  350 actors. 

"Fired cannon, pop, and firecrackers all day. In the evening had five skyrockets," wrote  fifteen-year-old Robert Goddard, of one fourth of July.
Fireworks are not just for amusement but can become inspiration- Goddard eventually became an important rocket scientist.

There have always been critics of fireworks. In 1731 a Rhode Island law banned "the unnecessary firing of Guns, Pistols, squibs,
 and other Fire-Works." Today many agencies control the fireworks industry in the United States: the Consumer Product Safety Commission; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the U.S. Department of Transportation; combine with the offices of countless  state and local regulators. 

There have been  fireworks accidents which have created debate.  In 1902 William Randolph Hearst, congressman  from New York City arranged a display at Madison Square to celebrate his election.  A mortar tipped over; and  ten thousand shells blew up. Seventeen people were killed  one hundred were injured and doors and windows were blown out. 

As fireworks grew more popular in the 19th century more and more people were injured. . By  the 1880s the press was criticizing "firecracker
and torpedo patriotism." 
Restrictions were soon imposed. The first city ban on private fireworks was passed in Cleveland  in 1908. In  the Depression, Michigan lead the restriction of  fireworks. As soon as the 1950s, twenty-eight states had banned  all consumer fireworks. Fourteen other states also restricted firework use.
Children could still order fireworks by mail though, until legislation was passed in 1954. 

In 1966 cherry bombs and ashcans, or M-80s were outlawed by federal law.  In the 1970s the Consumer Product Safety Commission wanted to ban all firecrackers.  Chinese-Americans, who use firecrackers in religious and cultural celebrations, protested and  the commission gave in. A  compromise was reached which  limited firecrackers to a finger-stinging fifty milligrams of flash powder.  The  typical cherry bomb  would contain about thirty times as much. 
 

Now Aerial shells are most popular in firework shows.  Shows have become faster and shorter.   A  forty-five-minute display is now packed into  twenty  minutes. Shows that combined shells with  set pieces such as Niagara Falls, a tank battle, a chariot race were popular until the 1960s.
Set pieces are not as common because people must be placed further from the displays due to safety regulations.  The set piece of the flaming American flag is now not as popular as it once was.

Modern innovations include shaped shells which make hearts, peace symbols, and even "happy faces"all in the sky. The "lampare," which is  gas bomb, explodes with a strange boom and becomes a  black and red fireball is popular. The development of Electric -firing has made timing fireworks to music possible. Computers are being used to control firing. One of the most important fireworks innovators is   The Disney organization. Disney may be the worlds leading consumer of fireworks. Compressed air launching   ignition via  electronic chips is being used to create more precise shows. 

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The British Tradition
The British tradition of Bonfire Night Fireworks takes a few different turns in its evolution.
Today large tableaux are still very popular and in fact essential. These can be massive structures possibly evolving larger in reaction to safety regulations which kept spectators at a distance. These are hollow and filled with fireworks of all sorts which explode as the structure is consumed by flame. Generally these structures depict the pope of the time of the plot, or Guy Fawkes himself. Other important themes are the political issues of the community. Politicians and those who have opposed the celebration "enemies of the bonfire", are often singled out to be immortalized in flame and explosion.

The squibbing tradition is also still a component of major bonfire celebrations. Squibs (see below)  are roman candles which are held by hand and emit a powerful stream of sparks. These once were home made but now are commercially produced due to safety restrictions.

Home made pyrotechnics were once the rule in British celebrations. Regional traditions produced their own special fireworks. The "Battle"  rouser or rocket  for example was a powerful firework made in a wooden cylinder within a paper  container. The powder mixed with iron filings  is tamped down with a wooden pestle. It was named for Battle in Sussex where it was produced. The materials for these were obtained up till about 100 yeas ago from the local government powder mills.  About 50 years ago the production of the rouser was banned.  It is recorded that during celebrations at Battle 2000,000 rousers were set off at one time.

Equipment for making a rouser
Paper container in wooden cylinder is filled with powder and tamped down
with the pestle. Then the paper is tied off.

Newick also had a tradition of unpredictable homemade rockets or rousers. One let off  by the Royal Oak in 1914 went across the road ,throughout the window of the grocer's shop and set fire to the curtains.

It is unfortunate that in Britain as in the United States regulation has caused the price of pyrotechnic displays to increase making small local shows hard to stage. Additionally rather than regulate and find a means to continue local traditions regulations have simply banned them. None the less fireworks remain freely available in small shops in Britain something that is rare in the U.S.A.

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I highly recommend Larry Crump's fireworks pages for images of all kinds of  British Fireworks. Click here

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Firework display: “before the Lords and Commons of Parliament and the militia of london in commemoration of God’s great mercy in delivering this kingdom from the hellish plots of
papists, acted in the damnable Gunpowder Treason” 
Gunner George Brown designed the display with a printed programme which explained what each 
tableau conveyed:- 

“1. Fire-balls burning in the water, and rising out of the water burning, showing the papist’s conjuration and consultation with infernal spirits, for the destruction of England’s king and
parliament. 

2.Fire-boxes like meteors, sending forth many dozen rockets out of the water, intimating the popish spirits coming from below to act their treasonous plots against England’s king and
parliament. 

3. Fawkes with his dark lantern, and many fire-boxes, lights, and lamps, ushering the pope into England, intimating the plot to destroy England’s true king and parliament. 

4. Pluto with his fiery club. Presenting himself maliciously bent to destroy all that have hindered the pope from destroying England’s king and parliament. 

6. Runners on a line, intimating the papists sending to all parts of the world, for subtle cunning and malicious plotters of mischief against England’s king and parliament. 

7. A fire-wheel, intimating the display of a flag of victory over the enemies that would have destroyed 
England’s King and parliament. 

8. Rockets in the air, showing the thankfulness of all well-willers to true religion, for the deliverance of England’s king and parliament. 

9. Balloons breaking in the air, with many streams of fire, showing God’s large and bounteous goodness towards England’s king and parliament. 

10. Chambers of lights, showing England’s willingness to cherish the light of the glorious gospel therin to be continued. 

11. A great bumber -ball br eaking in pieces, and discharging itself of other its lights, holding forth the cruelty of the papists to England’s king and parliament. 

12. Fire-boxes among the spectators, to warn them to take heed forthe future that they cherish none that are enemies to England’s king and parliament. 
-A Modell of the Fire-Works to be presented in Lincolnes-Inne Fields on the 5th of Novemb. 1647. (London 1647) A good source for contemporary fireworks: Francis Malthus, “A treatise
of Artifician Fire-Works, both for Warres and Recreation”(London, 1629) and John White. “A rich Cabinet, with Variety of Inventions...Whereunto is added avariety of Recreative
Fire-works, both for Land, Aire, and water.” (London, 1651) 

There were also bonfires and bells. 

Press Report 1647 
-Mercurius Elencticus (Royalist Newspaper) describes the event as : “some spuirting and squibbing fooleries in lincon’s Inn Fields” -Mercurius Elencticus 5-12 Nov. 1647. 

Celebrations 1647-60 
5 November 1647- an exceptional fireworks display and celebration in London 

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The(British) Firework Code

 Before they explode read the code!

 1
       Light sparklers one at atime and wear gloves
 2
       Never give sparklers to a child under 5
 3
       Buy faireworks marked BS 7114
 4
       Keep fireworks in a closed box
 5
       Follow the instructions on each firework
 6
       Light them at arm's length using a taper
 7
       Stand well back
 8
       Never go back to a lit firework
 9
       Never put fireworks in your pocket
 10
       Never throw fireworks
 11
       Keep pets indoors

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THE EXPLOSIVES (FIREWORKS) REGULATIONS (NI) 1999
The sale of the following fireworks to the general public is prohibited:
_ All bangers (including ‘batteries’ containing bangers, such as Chinese Crackers)
_ All mini rockets
_ All fireworks of erratic flight (eg ground spinners, jumping crackers, squibs)
_ All Category 2 air-bombs
_ All Category 3 fireworks without the issue of a licence obtainable from the Northern
Ireland Office
_ All Category 4 fireworks
Other measures:
_ All fireworks intended for use by the general public must comply with British Standard
BS 7114: Part 2: 1988
_ Packets of sparklers must carry the warning - "Warning: not to be given to children
under 5 years of age.”
_ Retail packs must contain 5 or more fireworks and must not be split
_ All Category 4 fireworks, which are not allowed by the law to be sold to or used by the
general public, must bear the warning – "This device must not be sold to, or used by, a
member of the general public."
Penalties
_ Failure to comply with these requirements can result in prosecution and a fine of up to
£5,000 or a prison sentence of up to six months, or both.
FIREWORKS ARE EXPLOSIVES. GET WISE OR GET HURT.
Keep on the Right Side
of the Law

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GUNPOWDER CELEBRATIONS—DOES  it never
                                     occur to any one that the firing of cannon to mark
                                     distinguished events and their anniversaries is far
                                      from being a rational practice? What is most ob-
                                     jectionable about this folly of the grown-up world,
                                      it sanctions similar practices on a smaller scale
                                       among boys, who, on several days of every year,
                                        are a source of danger both to themselves and
                                       others. Many a quiet family are little aware of
                                     the gunpowder plot carried on in cellar, closet, or
                                    garret, by the male juveniles of their establishment
                                     for several days before the royal birthday, or that
                                      the son whom they suppose to be at school, or at
                                     least enjoying some innocent recreation, is busied
                                      in some coarse mob not far from their home firing
                                       off pigmy ordnance, squibs, crackers, and other
                                        examples of pyrotechny. Hardly a year passes
                                      without its gunpowder victims, and sometimes the
                                   spirit of the fire-worshippers leads to actual rioting
                                        and destructive violence. We must really take
                                       leave to doubt that any benefits can be derived
                                     from a sulphureous celebration of great days, com-
                                     parable to the evils which it entails; and we can-
                                      not doubt that amusements of a rational and harm-
                                     less kind could easily be substituted, such as the
                                      visiting of museums, zoological gardens, picture
                                         galleries, and “show-places” generally. The
                                     first step in reform is one belonging to persons in
                                        authority: the firing of cannon on such days
                                              ought to be given up.— charnbers.
The Living age ... / Volume 6, Issue 67August 23, 1845 

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