A guide to all the fireworks effects you’ll see this New Year’s Eve

1st Galaxy Fireworks 77

One of the biggest nights of the year for fireworks is fast approaching – New Year’s Eve 2016. Whatever you’ve got planned for NYE, exciting pyrotechnics are bound to be involved at that crucial moment. After all, there’s no better way to mark the first seconds of a brand new year than with a spectacular fireworks celebration.

If you’re looking forward to NYE fireworks, here are the main effects you can expect to see during your local display. Tip – you can use this information on the night to impress your friends by sounding like a pyrotechnics expert!

Stars

Stars come in many shapes and sizes, but you’ll recognise them usually as a burst of bright lights that scatter in all directions like fireflies – often with a dense crackling sound. These effects fill space in a display perfectly, and it’s amazing how much they light up the sky.

Horsetail

This effect is easy to spot, as it is a compact burst which falls down in a horsetail curve – although some would argue that it looks like a comet or shooting star.

Chrysanthemum

One of the most commonly used firework effects, the chrysanthemum is a round burst of sparks which leave a mesmerising and incredibly beautiful trail behind them.

Peony

Many firework effects are named after flowers due to the similarities in shapes and beautiful colours. The peony is another, an effect similar to the chrysanthemum in that it is a spherical burst of colourful stars. It explodes from the centre, where it sparkles and crackles – this one always gets an “oooh!” from the audience.

Palm

The palm is easily identifiable, as once the initial explosion has happened, the trails of sparks fall out and down in the shape of palm leaves. The amount of space in the sky this one takes up in the sky is particularly impressive, as it lights up the sky and seems to rain down colourful lights. This makes it a real crowd-pleaser, which is why it is used in so many professional fireworks displays.

Pearls

Pearls are a very clever effect to add to a firework display, as they build up anticipation of loud noises and big explosions. However, they confuse and surprise by firing almost noiselessly into the sky as bright, glowing stars with no trail. This futuristic effect is not only quite cool and different to other fireworks, but it also raises excitement levels to fever pitch for the next big explosion.

Fish

This is a fascinating effect, one that really does look like its sparks have a life of their own. After a central explosion, the sparks burst out in all directions – with tiny squiggles of light flying away like fish swimming in the sky. Children will love this effect, especially when you tell them what it’s called!

Have an amazing NYE!

Hopefully this has got you feeling super excited for NYE fireworks – there’s not long to wait now! Have an amazing time, but remember to stay safe!