Updated: June 27, 2011

By Christa Fletcher

Fireworks displays, a staple of American Independence Day celebrations, almost always inspire excitement. An explosive symbol of our country's history, they also really top off a summer evening spent outdoors or during a thrilling New Year's celebration.

Over the course of the hundreds of years in which fireworks have developed and become more sophisticated -- creating more spectacular and colorful explosions in the night sky -- they've also become more accessible and dangerous.

Though fireworks can be safe with the right precautions, many injuries occur from reckless and avoidable mistakes. In the United States alone, there were 9,800 injuries from fireworks in 2007 -- up from 8,300 in 1997. The easiest way to protect your, we assume, beloved, fingers is to avoid them altogether. A good way to enjoy fireworks is to watch your town's public show from a distance with your best bud and a picnic.

If, however, like us, you need a fireworks fix before New Year's or the Fourth of July, check out some photos of great fireworks shows from around the world. And, if you'd like to know exactly how the tradition took off, discover the history of fireworks with the quiz below.