- Technology Report
- Health Report
- Education Report
- Economics Report
- Arts & Culture
- Ask a Teacher
- Words And Their Stories
- AS IT IS
- Everyday Grammar
- This is America
- Science in the News
- In the News
- American Stories
- Trending Today
- U.S. History
- America's National Parks
- America's Presidents
- Agriculture Report
- Explorations
- People in America
Fireworks
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
29 June, 2013
Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.
I'm Rich Kleinfeldt.
Today we tell about the word fireworks.
The expression "fireworks" gets its meaning from the fireworks that people shoot into the sky when they are celebrating a great event. Rockets explode to fill the dark, night sky with bright reds and blues, with yellows and greens and whites.
The expression also means a great show of noisy anger, or something exciting. For example, a defense lawyer in a court trial may become very emotional in arguing with the government lawyer about evidence affecting the accused. The judge finally stops the loud argument and calls the two lawyers forward. He tells them, "I want no more of these fireworks in my courtroom."
Another kind of fireworks can be any event or activity that is especially exciting. One such event is falling in love. If anything can produce fireworks, it is a sweetheart's kiss or the touch of a lover's hand. Often movie or television cartoons show fireworks to represent the excitement of a kiss.
People use the expression fireworks throughout the year. But if you live in the United States and want to see real fireworks, the best time of the year is about now. The Fourth of July is Independence Day in the United States. Americans traditionally celebrate their nation's freedom with giant public parties and fireworks at night.
In Washington, for example, large crowds gather near the Washington Monument to listen to music and watch a huge fireworks show. In other cities and smaller towns, local people listen to band concerts and watch fireworks explode in a dark sky.
Many other countries around the world also enjoy the tradition of exploding fireworks on special days. In Australia, the city of Sydney begins each new year with a fireworks show at midnight. China is the birthplace of fireworks. Large fireworks shows were held often during earlier times in China. Now, people use small fireworks to help celebrate weddings and birthdays.
France also has a great fireworks tradition. A large fireworks show always takes place on Bastille day which celebrates the beginning of the French Revolution. The French city of Cannes holds an international fireworks competition each year in July and August.
In India, people have been using fireworks for more than five hundred years. A great Indian fireworks show takes place during the religious celebration of Diwali, every autumn.
Fireworks shows are popular around the world. But if I do not end this program right now, there will be fireworks from my producer.
(MUSIC)
This VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, was written by David Jarmul. I'm Rich Kleinfeldt.
Related Articles
- Rx: Why It Means Take Your Medicine (13/6/22)
- Words and Their Stories: Money Talks (13/6/15)
- Old Proverbs Still Speak the Truth (13/6/8)
- Proverbs Tell How to Succeed in Life (13/6/1)
- Listeners Tell Their Favorite Proverbs (13/5/25)
- Proverbs Tell About Love, War and Money (13/5/18)
- Rocket Scientists Enjoy a Good Reputation (13/5/12)
- Words and Their Stories: Medical Terms (13/5/4)
- Words and Their Stories: Nicknames for New York City (13/4/27)
- Words and Their Stories: Nicknames for Los Angeles (13/4/20)