You must have all kinds of fireworks in your backyard.’ It’s kind of the last thing we want to do,” he tells Popular Science. It’s somewhat ironic but understandable, since the Souza family name is synonymous with pyrotechnic wizardry. There, he started building his own fireworks for local Portuguese community festivals, while teaching his family the trade secrets. Armed with the patriarch’s own pyrotechnic “cookbook,” ensuing generations of the Souza family (now with a “z”) have since expanded the business into one of the world’s leading firework show organizers. Undeniably one of their biggest and most watched events, however, is the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Show seen millions of people each summer.