Catherine Wheels
It’s the showpiece of any garden display. It’s the wow factor, the one we all look forward to, and the one that lights up the garden and your children’s smiles. It is, of course, the Catherine Wheel. But this family favourite can also be one of the most frustrating fireworks in the whole box. If that pin-wheel doesn’t spin, it can be a real let-down.
Fortunately at Ghengis Fireworks, we have a few tips to make sure your Catherine Wheel spins up to full speed every time. We’ve also got some pretty gruesome facts about the history of this happy little sparkler, too.
The Catherine Wheel – a sparkly firework with a dark past
Let’s go all the way back to the 4th century, and a feisty young lady called Catherine. Legend has it that Catherine, a member of the growing Christian church, decided to go and see if she could convert the Roman emperor Maxentius and talk him out of persecuting her fellow Christians. Maxentius wasn’t having any of it (although his wife was s bit more sympathetic to Catherine’s persuasion). The emperor got a little tired of watching everyone who came into contact with Catherine converting to Christianity, so he threw her in jail – not a good place to be in the 4th century.
Finally losing patience, he condemned her to death by ‘Breaking on the wheel’ – a particularly nasty way to die. But before she could expire, an angel flew down and shattered the wheel. This didn’t do Catherine much good in the long run, as the emperor chopped off her head instead.
Catherine became Saint Catherine of Alexandria and is the patron saint of spinners (as in people who spin wool for a living). Eventually, she became associated with the spinning firework, and so the Catherine Wheel was born.
Big wheels keep on turning…
We love big fireworks here at Ghengis Fireworks, but we’ve still got a bit of a way to go when it comes to the world’s largest Catherine Wheel. That honour belongs to the island of Malta, where in June 2011 they lit up a belter of a wheel that was over 105ft (32m) in diameter. We’re guessing that particular firework wasn’t nailed to a garden fence!
How to get your Catherine Wheel to spin
This is the big one. It’s important to keep that Catherine Wheel spinning all the way through its display to keep everyone happy. But as with any firework, you should never return to a Catherine Wheel once it’s lit. Not even to poke it with a stick to try and make it spin. Seriously – don’t do that. Instead, pop a bit of Vaseline on the nail before you hammer it into the fence. The Vaseline will lubricate the surfaces (a bit like engine oil in a car) and ensure they move smoothly.
Make sure the firework is central on the nail. If it’s lopsided, it won’t spin properly. And we’ll say it again – NEVER return to a lit Catherine Wheel to give it a prod.
Ghengis Fireworks – the home of the Catherine Wheel
We’ve got big wheels, we’ve got small wheels, we’ve got every kind of wheel you can imagine. And we’re always adding more to our collection. Check out our Catherine Wheels online, and if you have any questions about using these family favourites in your display, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help with advice and top tips.
