Today, fireworks are used around the world to celebrate holidays or other important events. There are fireworks displays for all sorts of occasions, such as ringing in the new year, celebrating a country’s independence, or wishing luck to a newlywed couple. But fireworks are not a modern invention—in fact, fireworks have actually been around for over one thousand years. Fireworks were first used in China in the 7th century. According to historical evidence, these first fireworks were not used as a form of celebration—they were actually a way to scare off evil spirits.