<P> Despite their name, Roman candles did not originate in Ancient Rome, or in Italy . Rather, they originated in China, but first became popular during the Italian Renaissance . </P> <P> They are banned in some countries, including the Netherlands and Finland, as they have a tendency to cause accidents due to users not knowing how to use them properly . Roman candles are illegal to possess or set off in the U.S. states of Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Rhode Island . </P> <P> Roman candles are fireworks constructed with bentonite, lifting charge, pyrotechnic star, black powder, and delay charge . The device is ignited from the top, which should be pointed into the sky, away from people . The delay powder is packed tightly in the tube, so that the flame cannot reach around the sides of the plug of delay composition . It therefore burns slowly; as it is consumed, the flame moves down through the tube . When the flame reaches the topmost pyrotechnic star, the star is ignited . Because the star fits loosely in the tube, the fire spreads around it and ignites the lift charge . The lift charge burns quickly, propelling the star out of the tube . In doing so it also ignites the layer of delay powder beneath it, and the process repeats . There are several variations on this: </P> <Ul> <Li> Many Chinese Roman candles use clay instead of delay powder and run a length of fuse down the inside of the candle to time the lifts . </Li> <Li> Larger Roman candles (three - inch diameter or more) usually add more lift to the highest layers and less to the lower layers in order to cause the stars to lift to the same altitude . This is due to the shorter length of tube available for accelerating the higher stars (see firearms internal ballistics). </Li> <Li> Some very large Roman candles load comet shells instead of stars . </Li> </Ul>

Where does the term roman candle come from