The first fireworks were created as a result of the ancient Chinese’s quest for immortality. In early-ninth-century China, alchemy was practiced in order to produce a substance that would prolong life. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.livescience.com/65870-fireworks-immortality-search.html
The term decimate’s original definition was “to kill one in 10”. The practice was used by the Roman army in the fifth century BC as a way to inspire fear and loyalty. If any of a cohort’s soldiers acted cowardly or deserted, then lots were drawn and one unlucky soldier out of every 10 in that cohort would be killed by their own comrades. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimation_(Roman_army)