Malta History of FireWorks

[laquil]

Hi every one,

I would like to start with the history of Malta fireworks, to get to know how the Maltese do our fireworks


Please find down below part one of History of Malta Fireworks, this Video was produce from our neighbor Village called Luqa were is the Only airport on the Island only
2 miles from were I live, in these videos they will explain how fireworks started in Malta
and how we are doing it today.

Sorry for my poor English, but i will try to open a discussion on this forum

how we make these (Beraq) because my ambitious are that before i will die and i will leave this earth i would like to open a school here in Malta about fireworks and people all over the world they are welcome to come over to learn and experiment on fireworks with us.

Thank you

History of Malta Link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8Jpx1rtCuk

[laquil]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8Jpx1rtCuk

[laquil]

This is part 2



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHepfKaCtEo

[PyroJoeNEPA]

Wonderful look into the history and tradition of Malta & fireworks. I have seen several you tube videos of different villages making their shells in preparation for a feast and am amazed at the complexity of the beraq shells. Thanks for posting the videos. And I am sure there are many of us on the forum here that would love to be able to come to Malta to see this as well as be able to spend time helping and learning the techniques of your shell building. I know there are a handful of people here in the USA that are making this type shell [for club displays--not public use] and have seen some of them on video---but it would certainly be nice to see many more! Grazzi Hafna!

[laquil]

Thank you My Pleasure we the Maltese do fireworks because we love fireworks we don't do it for business we are all Voluntary's I work here in Malta (Beraq) those are the most common ones let explain some thing

If you are in Malta working on (Beraq) is like you are a second Class Citizen because it is common every one knows how to do that but the Colors ones are more difficult to do.

[PyroMonkey]

Greetings, Laquil, and thank you for sharing the interesting videos and knowledge. I have been fascinated by the Maltese shells, particularly the Beraq. The colored Beraq (perhaps there is another name for them) are particularly impressive. I find it humorous that you said Beraq makers are seen as second-class citizens in Malta.... in the U.S., Beraq is seen as a very mysterious art form and discipline, and we can't quite figure it out! We are also hesitant to manufacture the Beraq as you do, piercing them after they are filled.

[laquil]

Hi pyroMonkey, thank you for your reply, yes it is truth about the beraq because they are so common here in Malta, let me tell you something when a new pyro guy starts to work in fireworks you will start from the beraq then you will be allowed to start working on the color ones, now having said that, i have posted a very price full of information in an other Forum, i have also posted pictures how we make the Beraq you will find it very use full to understand how it works. check my post in this forum called Malta Fireworks obviously here on pyrotalk.com

[laquil]

By the way i am still the Beraq maker here in Malta, may be i will move to colors ones, we shall see.

[laquil]

These photos some of my work in the firework factory

Some of my 10 inch diameter Multi break Beraq

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy80/la-valletta/Photo-0047.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy80/la-valletta/Photo-0042.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy80/la-valletta/Photo-0038.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy80/la-valletta/Photo-0044.jpg



Finally When I have visit NewYork nice tall Buildings and I came to celebrate the New Year

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy80/la-valletta/Photo-0040.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy80/la-valletta/Photo-0039.jpg

[PyroJoeNEPA]

Laquil, can you tell us a little about how the fireworks are made for the Festivals? For example--when is the Festival held & how long before does the manufacture of the shells begin? Since it is all volunteer work I imagine it takes a long time to make all the shells each year. Are there a lot of people that make the shells and do you train the younger people as apprentices in how to make the shells? How old must you be to start to learn how to make shells? Who decides the design of the show--like how many shells, what order they are fired in, timing, placement of the mortars. Do the different villages assist each other during their Festivals or is the methods secret from village to village? I enjoyes your pictures & am glad you had the opportunity to visit New York City for the New Years Celebration. Did you enjoy the American fireworks? I am sure it was very different from what you are used to seeing in Malta.

[laquil]

Oh let give you some answers one by one

For example--when is the Festival held & how long before does the manufacture of the shells begin?
[COLOR="black"Each and every Village will celebrate the Festival every year[/COLOR]
Since it is all volunteer work I imagine it takes a long time to make all the shells each year
Yes we take a year doing it from one festival after the other we start again a month after the festival pass
Are there a lot of people that make the shells
In the Factory were I work we are only 40 we are divided in two groups one group consists of 30 doing Arial fireworks and the rest they do the ground fire works
do you train the younger people as apprentices in how to make the shells?
Yes we do but not that much the min age has to be 18 year old
Who decides the design of the show--like how many shells, what order they are fired in, timing, placement of the mortars.
In the group there is a small committee who decided the show but it will be tasked to each and every one of what we need to do for the show so every one has a plan but we are open for discussions
Do the different villages assist each other during their Festivals or is the methods secret from village to village?
NO !!! none of the villages will help each other it is a secret method in Qrendi there are two festivals we are very rivals to each other we have a competition between us who makes the most beautiful and the most perfect fireworks
I enjoyes your pictures & am glad you had the opportunity to visit New York City for the New Years Celebration. Did you enjoy the American fireworks? I am sure it was very different from what you are used to seeing in Malta.
First of all I really liked New york because it is very different from here we don't have that tall Buildings for us it is something super power for the fireworks yes it was nice every one has something to offer the atmosphere in USA during NEW YEARS is something you want find it no were in the world in Malta in New year cutting this last two years we do nothing to celebrate

my last wish is I want to come to USA on 4 th of JULY and I would like to make a BIG Ground Fireworks like make the Statue of Liberty say 40 Feet high
with a lot of other things like irdeden that you the Americans will remember that day that's my wish and also i would like to participate in some seminars to give my contribution to the world

[laquil]

I would like to post this Video as an educational material

So that every one will understand Maltese History

we were the First Humans walking around on this Planet

Were the Lost City of Atlantis is beneath our seas and were our secrets are coming from

See this Video and you will be all surprised and you will have all the answers


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2iQ_jcpZUw&feature=related

[laquil]

Tarxien Temples 3100 years old


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wyHbtTKSo4

Atlantis was here ones

http://www.gozo-malta-reality-tour.com/Atlantis.html
http://www.everythingselectric.com/forum/index.php?topic=180.0


So what do you think about Atlantis? Is it true that Malta and Gozo once formed part of this ancient Civilization?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPZviFs_CHg

[Vavoom]

Laquil, it's amazing the amount of info you have been sharing here. I think a lot of people will appreciate it. As do I. You deserve a big thank you!