Jargon Busting: What do these common firework terms actually mean?

With a vast range of terms used to describe fireworks and their effects, it can all be a bit confusing if you don't know the lingo.

That's where our expert team here at Epic Fireworks come in. We've pulled together a list of the most common firework terms and listed descriptions for them below. This way you can take the guesswork out of planning your next firework display.

Barrage: A rapid-fire series of shots from a single firework.

Barrage Finale: A rapid-fire sequence of shots that concludes a fireworks display.

Blinker: A star that flickers on and off.

Brocade: Glowing, golden stars that leave a lingering trail.

Cake: Another term for barrage.

Cake Box: A container with multiple connected tubes that fires a series of shots. 

Chrysanthemum: Large, spherical bursts of stars that burn brightly.

Comet: A bright, fast-traveling star that leaves a trail of sparks.

Crackling: Stars that produce a crackling sound as they burn.

Crossette: Stars split into smaller ones that travel in different directions.

Dahlia: Large stars with a circular burst pattern.

Double Break: A shell that produces two bursts in succession.

Dragon's Eggs: Small, crackling pellets that create a visual effect.

Falling Leaves: Glowing embers that slowly descend.

Fan Cake: A cake or barrage that fires shots in a fan-shaped pattern.

Finale: The final part of a fireworks display, often featuring a rapid sequence of impressive effects.

Fish: Glowing, darting effects that resemble fish swimming.

Flutter: Stars that flutter and twinkle as they fall.

Ghost Shell: A shell that produces a delayed, lingering effect.

Horsetail: A cascading effect that resembles a horse's tail.

Mine: A ground-based firework that shoots stars into the sky.

Multi-colour: Effects that include a combination of different colored stars.

Noise Maker: A firework designed primarily for loud noise effects.

Palm: Stars burst outward in a palm tree-like pattern.

Peony: A burst of stars that burn and expand before fading away.

Ring Shell: A shell that creates a ring-shaped burst.

Roman Candle: A tube that fires a series of stars into the sky.

Salute: A loud report or explosion, typically without any visual effect.

Screamers: Whistling effects that make a high-pitched noise.

Serpentine: A snake-like effect that wiggles through the sky.

Shell: A spherical container loaded with pyrotechnic composition, designed to burst in the sky and create various effects.

Shot: A single explosive event, typically the launch or ignition of a firework effect.

Single Shot: A firework that produces a single effect with a single shot.

Strobe: Intense flashes of light that create a strobe-like effect.

Strobe Mine: A mine that produces a strobe effect.

Strobing Willow: A willow effect with intermittent bursts of brightness.

Triple Break: A shell that produces three bursts in succession.

Willow: Long-burning stars that create a weeping willow tree-like effect.

Now you know the most common firework terms and what they all mean, you can shop with confidence and find exactly what you're looking for from our huge range of fireworks.

Here at Epic Fireworks we've been in the pyrotechnic game a long time - almost three decades! So if you ever need help, have any questions, or want to get advice on the best fireworks to choose for your event give us a shout.