Donate SIGN UP
Home > How it Works > Catherine wheel

Catherine wheel

Avatar Image
AngelusRIP | 16:48 Fri 29th Oct 2004 | How it Works
3 Answers
Why is the spinney round firework called a catherine wheel. I think it was named after Catherine the great but dont know 4 sure. Can anyone help.
prev Local Radio Stations
  
next As pathetic as it is......How the hell do you ask someone out?
Gravatar

Answers

1 to 3 of 3rss feed

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by AngelusRIP. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
Avatar Image archbishop
St. Catherine was martyred on a wheel.
18:07 Fri 29th Oct 2004
Avatar Image Ewood27

I have to take issue with you, archbishop.  St Catherine of Siena died apparently of being crushed by a spirtual weight.  See http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03447a.htm

 

St Catherine of Alexandria was sentenced to die on the wheel, but at her miraculous touch it disintegrated.  So she was beheaded instead.  See http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03445a.htm

 

The wheel may have got its name from that on which the second St Catherine was meant to have died.  I don't know of any connection with Catherine the Great of Russia.

21:42 Fri 29th Oct 2004
Avatar Image Mortartube
According to Alan St Hill Brock in his book "A history of fireworks", it is named after St Catherine who was martyred on a toothed wheel.
10:04 Sat 30th Oct 2004

1 to 3 of 3rss feed

Do you know the answer?

Catherine wheel

Answer Question >>