The story behind the fireworks display celebrating Pelješac bridge connection

(Photo: Supplied)

After 300 years, Croatia was full connected again last Wednesday night when the final segment of the 2.4 kilometre-long Pelješac Bridge, which connects the southernmost parts of Croatia and the country’s mainland, was installed.

The bridge was connected three months ahead of schedule and three years after workers from China Road and Bridge Corporation started work in the Bay of Mali Ston.

A big fireworks display marked the connecting of the bridge, but why when the bridge still has some way to go before being open to the public?

Every week after the completion of various stages in the construction, Chinese workers fired fireworks and lit firecrackers. They did the same last Wednesday after merging the last element by ordering and paying for a spectacular fireworks display.

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Award-winning local Croatian company Mirnovec Pirotehnika, which has good relations with China, were hired for the job.

The successful business cooperation between Mirnovec Pirotehnika and China has lasted for more than 25 years with  director and owner of the company Franjo Koletić doing business there for the last 25 years, including spending over three years of his life in China.

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There is a belief among the Chinese people that by firing fireworks and making noise, thousands of firecrackers that are connected to the ranks drive away evil spirits and thus bring happiness whether it is people, objects or projects.

The Chinese also fire off fireworks at funerals, weddings, when opening new bars and starting new businesses. It does not matter if it is a happy or sad occasion, the ritual is always the same.

The story begins more than 1000 years ago, when during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) by a Chinese monk named Li Tian, who lived near the city of Liu Yang in Hunan Province, more precisely in the village of Da Yao invented the first firecrackers and fireworks.

Last Wednesday night they outsourced to the Croatian guys from Mirnovac who performed the task and in turn bestowed happiness on this project.

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There were 8 people from Mirnovac who prepared fireworks for a week before the event. More than 1,000 projectiles were fired  off for the occasion.

(Photo: Supplied)

(Photo: Supplied)

The fireworks were lit by electronic systems with wireless control. The fireworks were fired from two barges at the same time and the choreography of the fireworks was the concept of young pyro designer Nikola Koletić.

(Photo: Supplied)

(Photo: Supplied)

Mirnovac pyrotechnics have performed at major competitions all over the world, winning a number of them. They were set to perform at the largest fireworks festival in the world in Montreal this year, but unfortunately the festival was postponed for the second year in a row due to the pandemic.