為了慶祝7月4日美國獨立紀念日（Independence Day），很多美國人往往遵循傳統，在晚間仰望燦爛的煙花在群星閃爍的星空燃放。此時此刻愛國情操油然而生。
燃放煙花的傳統始于美國開國元勛之一，美國第二任總統約翰·亞當斯（John Adams）。他認為燃放煙花應該是獨立紀念日的一項慶祝活動。他在給妻子阿比蓋爾（Abigail）的信中寫道，“從此以往，鐘聲、篝火和閃亮的光芒，從大陸的這一端延續到那一端，永世無窮。”
美國人接受他的建議奉行至今，亞當斯一定會因此感到欣慰。
近幾十年來，大城市的煙花表演利用電腦編排和操作，編排更為紛繁復雜。據美國煙花協會（American Pyrotechnics Association）執行主任朱莉 ·赫克曼說，技術人員往往需要花費幾個月的時間進行設計和編排，使煙花呈現五光十色的形態，例如閃亮的雨珠、傾瀉的水流、菊花盛開等，同時為這些煙花配上動聽的樂曲。她說，“煙花的設計人員實際上利用天空作為幕布，按照自己的設想編排各種類型的煙花形狀和效果，配合音樂在空中揮灑畫筆。”
但是在小城鎮，煙花仍然如同亞當斯時代的傳統，通過人工燃放。新技術代價高昂，舊習慣的消逝需要時間。
赫克曼說，“這可能是他們小城鎮的做法，他們只是喜歡這樣做。”
For many in the United States on July 4, the traditional way to end the day is to sit down, look up and watch a fireworks show — an artistic display of light, color and sound that fills the sky, evoking a sense of patriotic pride on America’s Independence Day.
Fireworks displays are an annual tradition, one that began with John Adams — a Founding Father and the country’s second president. Adams envisioned fireworks as part of Independence Day celebrations. In a letter to his wife, Abigail, Adams explained that the festivities should include “Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations [fireworks] from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”
Adams would likely be pleased that Americans took his advice — and ran with it.
In recent decades, big-city fireworks shows have become complex affairs lit electronically and choreographed by computer.
Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association, says technicians spend months arranging fireworks patterns resembling crackling rain, falling water and chrysanthemums to match complex music.
“The creators of the pyrotechnics are really using the sky as a blank canvas and designing how they want the different types of fireworks and effects to paint the sky and synchronize with the music,” she said.
But in small towns, fireworks displays are often lit as they were in Adams’ time — by hand. New technologies can be costly, and old habits die slowly.
“It might be their own small town,” said Heckman, “and they just love doing it.”
遼寧煙花爆竹掃一掃
