How to Make Fireworks, 1633

“Of the making of Rockets and other Fireworkes. For the making of Rockets of sundry kinds, divers molds are to be made, with their Rowling pins, Breathes, Chargers, &c. as may be seene here in the figure. And having rowled a Case of paper upon the Rowling pin for your mould, fill it with the composition belonging to that mould... now may you loade it on the top, with Serpents, Reports, Stars, or Golden Raine... Touching the making of the Golden Raine that is nothing but filling of Quilles with the composition of your Rockets somewhat hard: Now if the head of a Rocket be loaded with a thousand of those Quilles its a goodly sight to see how pleasantly they spread themselves in the Ayre and come down like streames of Gold much like the falling downe of Snow being agitated by a turbulent winde." 

Jean Leurechon (Hendrik van Etten), Mathematicall Recreations

 Gunpowder + a thousand quills = guaranteed to be a goodly sight.

How to Make a Rain of Fireworks, 1658

"To make the golden Rain, you must get store of Goose-quills, and cut them off next the feathers, and fill these quills hard with the same composition that is in your rocket, and must be put on the head of the Rocket with the open end downwards: If it were possible to put a thousand of these quills upon the head of a Rocket, it were a dainty sight to see how pleasantly they spread themselves in the air, and come down like streams of gold much like the falling down of Snow, especially if the wind be any thing high."

John White, "The School of Artificial Fire-Works," A Rich Cabinet (1658)

Fourth of July to-do list: grill hamburgers, make potato salad, obtain and manicure a thousand goose quills for dainty fireworks display.

How to Make a Dragon out of Fireworks, 1658

"How to make a Dragon, or the like, to run on the Line, spitting of fire. The body of the Dragon must be made either with Past-board, or with fine rods of wicker, being hollow, with a place in the belly to put in two Rockets... first set it at the eyes and mouth... then fire that Rocket which is placed with his mouth toward the tayl of the Dragon, which will make it seem to cast fire from thence till he come to the end of his motion; and then on a sudden (as a creature wounded with some accident) shall return with fire coming forth of his belly: This being well ordered, will give good content to the beholders of the same."

John White, "The School of Artificial Fire-Works," A Rich Cabinet (1658)

If this spectacle goes according to plan, a creature who appears to have been wounded in some accident will hurtle around spewing fire. If it goes awry, the fireworks technician will do the same. Either way the beholders will be amazed.