Maybe I’m not a fireworks connoisseur, but I had no idea there were so many different types of effects and I definitely didn’t know they had names. To me, their names are, “The Ones That Do That Shooty Thing,” “The Ones That Scream” and “The Ones That Kind of Sparkle Out.” Very technical. If you’re like me, here’s a mini-lesson for you — try to spot them at whatever fireworks display you attend this Fourth of July weekend.

1. Peony

This one is apparently the most common, so your chances of spotting it in the skies this weekend are pretty good. It’s “a spherical break of colored stars.”

2. Chrysanthemum

This is a variation of the Peony – the difference is that the stars leave a visible trail of sparks. To me, this looks like a fiber optic ball or those balls that you put your hand on to attract the current to at science museums and the life.

3. Willow

I love this one! It’s a lot like the Peony and its variations (the Chrysanthemum and the Dahlia), but it leaves trails of silver or gold stars that produce a weeping willow-ish outline.

4. Horsetail

It’s a compact little burst that falls down down, well, like a horsetail. You might also hear this one referred to as a Waterfall Shell.

5. Fish

The shell bursts and then you see little squiggles of light squirming away from the main burst. The effect looks like fish swimming away. Or sperm. Whatever.

6. Spider

This one is fast-burning and bursts very hard, which makes the stars shoot out straight and flat. Basically, the look like lots of spider legs.

7. Palm

This one produces an effect that looks like a palm tree when it bursts (go figure). Some even have a thick tail that looks like a trunk.

8. Crossette

Take lots of tic-tac-toe boards and cross them over each other haphazardly. That’s kind of what the crossette looks like. It’s usually accompanied by a loud crackling noise.

9. Kamuro

Named after a Japanese hairstyle, this one has a dense burst that leaves a glittery trail.

10. Rings

I like these because they can be arranged to look like atoms, which is very mental_floss-y. But typically you see rings within rings, like the ones in the picture.

For more fireworks effects and help on spotting them, take this quiz on PBS.org.

This Quick 10 originally ran in 2009.

More from mental_floss…

The Quick 10: Itsy-Bitsy, Teeny-Weeny Trivia About Bikinis
*
It’s a Steal! How Columbia House Made Money Giving Away Music
*
Those Aren’t Your Father’s Fireworks
*
The Real Details of the Hot Coffee Lawsuit
*
Drink Up! The Stories Behind 11 Regional Soft Drinks