Who Names Fireworks?

While fireworks were invented in China in the seventh century to scare away evil spirits, they also were used to pray for happiness and prosperity. Pyrotechnicians were respected for their work in light and sound, and eventually some of the same propulsion techniques were used in warfare.

It's no wonder that the names given to today's fireworks reflect a bit of all this history.

Part of the fun of shopping this year at the , located just south of Eureka on Missouri Route 109, is looking at those names, and thinking about the accompanying "personalities" of the fireworks. Here's a sampling of the variety:

• Captain America
• Whistling Buster
• Top Notch
• Head Banger
• Too Cool
• New World Order
• Love On Fire
• Slam Dunk
• Panic Box
• Smoke N- Mirrors
• Labrynith
• Wipe Out
• Crazy Creatures
• Killer Heat
• Space Warp
• Joke
• Mommoth Strobe
• Shockwave
• Blued and Tatooed
• Ladybugs
• Monkey Business

Some of the fireworks even mimic our text-oriented culture, being deemd "LOL" and "OMG."

Tent managers Mary and Michelle Corbett indicate some of the new products this summer are 500-gram kegs, new artillery shells and multitudes.

Of course, bottle rockets, snap and pops and sprinklers are still among the most popular purchases, said Michelle.

Mary said they intentionally established a "Kids Friendly Corner" of the tent, from which the selections provide many appropriate choices for younger ages. "Parents appreciate that section, and kids feel like they can pick and choose," she said.

Regardless of the names of fireworks purchased, the Corbetts have a few safety tips they would like to pass on:

1. Never forget you are dealing with explosives. "A little common sense goes a long way," said Mary.
2. Don't line up kids with sprinklers, all in a circle, right next to each other where the sparks can fly off and hit the others. Instead, spread children out with safe distances among them.
3. Don't allow kids to stand right behind each other, lighting fireworks out of site of the person in front, because they risk their hair catching on fire.
4. Bottle rocket wars are never safe!
5. Project fireworks from flat surfaces.
6. Use a pipe when shooting rockets.
7. Do not send fireworks tipped in the direction of people or crowds.
8. Let used fireworks cool down before throwing them away, to avoid unnecessary fires in trash cans and truck beds.

The stand offers a buy one/get four free on select items, in addition to 40 to 70 percent off prices of certain assortments.