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How to Make Beautiful and Historic Japanese Sparklers

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Toys from the 1800s are still mesmerizing today. Birthday Blowing Out Candles

How to Make Beautiful and Historic Japanese Sparklers

Practice makes perfect. Sometimes that practice takes a few days or weeks, sometimes it takes a few years. In the case of YouTuber Nighthawkinlight, searching for the perfect recipe for 'Senko Hanabi' sparklers, it took some ten years. Fortunately he's sharing what he learned so it doesn't need to take you nearly as long.

Senko Hanabi sparklers date back to Japan's Edo period, from the 1600s through the late 1800s. Literally translated as "incense stick firework," these toys had origins in the incense burning associated with Buddhist funerals. With more meditative roots than many other forms of fireworks, Senko Hanabi are both beautiful and calming.

This content is imported from youTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.How To Make Senko Hanabi Sparklers (very rare Japanese fireworks)Watch on

Of course, one need not meditate with fireworks to find them beautiful. You can also launch them during the day and get similarly unique results.

David Grossman is a staff writer for PopularMechanics.com. He's previously written for The Verge, Rolling Stone, The New Republic and several other publications. He's based out of Brooklyn.

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