Catherine wheel (firework)
- Catherine wheel (firework)
The Catherine wheel (also Catharine wheel, pinwheel) is a type of firework consisting of a powder-filled spiral tube, or an angled rocket mounted with a pin through its centre. When ignited, it rotates quickly, producing a display of sparks and coloured flame.
The firework is named for the wheel on which St. Catherine was martyred.
In Malta, Catherine wheels are very popular, and in Maltese, they call them "Irdieden". The most known place for Catherine wheels is Haz-Zebbug, where they fill a whole road with them, from small wheels, to large, complex gear work. Different types of wheels - including "timed," "gearwork," and "simple" - last for different durations.
The most common Catherine Wheel, which feasts with low budget use, is the 5 wheel piece, which consists of 4 wheels placed in a form of a cross, and one in the middle. Another favourite one is the star piece. It is usually big, 4 meters in diameter, and 8 shaped diamonds or usually 10 rotate on a base, which create an opening and closing star effect.
Malta is known for its fireworks abilities, both ground and air. In fact, the fireworks factory of Santa Marija of Mqabba, well known in Malta for its beautiful fireworks displays, won a competition in Rome, Caput Lucis, competing against fireworks factories around the world, including Japan, China and Italy.
Wikimedia Foundation.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Catherine wheel — may refer to:* Catherine wheel or breaking wheel, an instrument of torturous execution associated with Saint Catherine of Alexandria * Catherine wheel (firework), a type of spinning firework * Catherine wheel (window), a type of spoked circular… … Wikipedia
Catherine-wheel — /kathˈ(ə )rin (h)wēl/ noun 1. A rotating firework 2. A rose window (architecture) 3. A wheel set round with teeth (heraldry) 4. A sidewise somersault ORIGIN: From St Catherine of Alexandria (4c), who survived torture on a wheel … Useful english dictionary
Catherine wheel — ► NOUN Brit. ▪ a firework in the form of a spinning coil. ORIGIN named after St Catherine, who was martyred on a spiked wheel … English terms dictionary
Catherine Wheel — Infobox musical artist Name = Catherine Wheel Img capt = Background = group or band Origin = Great Yarmouth, England Genre = Grunge, Alternative rock, Shoegaze Years active = 1990–2000 Label = Fontana Wilde Club Columbia URL =… … Wikipedia
catherine wheel — UK [ˈkæθrɪn ˌwiːl] / US [ˈkæθrɪn ˌwɪl] / US [ˈkæθrɪn ˌhwɪl] noun [countable] Word forms catherine wheel : singular catherine wheel plural catherine wheels British a circular firework (= an object that burns to produce coloured light and noise)… … English dictionary
catherine wheel — [[t]kæ̱θərɪn (h)wiːl[/t]] catherine wheels N COUNT A catherine wheel is a firework in the shape of a circle which spins round and round … English dictionary
Catherine wheel — 1. a firework that revolves on a pin, making a wheel of fire or sparks; pinwheel. 2. See wheel window. Also, catharine wheel. [1175 1225; ME; named after St. CATHERINE of Alexandria, from wheel used to torture her] * * * … Universalium
catherine wheel — cath|er|ine wheel [ˈkæθərın wi:l] n BrE pinwheel AmE [Date: 1700 1800; Origin: Saint Catherine of Alexandria (4th century), who was sentenced to be killed on a wheel] a round flat ↑firework that spins around as it burns … Dictionary of contemporary English
Catherine wheel — noun 1》 Brit. a firework in the form of a spinning coil. 2》 Heraldry a wheel with curved spikes projecting around the circumference. Origin C16: named after St Catherine, with ref. to her martyrdom on a spiked wheel … English new terms dictionary
Catherine wheel — /ˈkæθrən wil/ (say kathruhn weel) noun 1. a firework which rotates as it burns. 2. Architecture → rose window. {named after Saint Catherine} …
