| The world is a brighter, lighter, happier place | | | | Synonymous with fun, festivities and merriment, |
| thanks to balloons. A bunch of these bobbing | | | | the helium balloon soon became a must have item |
| decorations are guaranteed to be seen at | | | | on parade floats and eye-catching window displays |
| everything from Bar Mitzvahs to birthday | | | | throughout the world. When Helen Warny released |
| celebrations and have become the essential party | | | | 50,000 helium-filled balloons decorated with her |
| item since the Aztecs first created them from | | | | name in New York, she unwittingly started a |
| cat's bowels. What else can be used to brighten | | | | balloon printing trend which would be copied |
| up the dullest of spaces than a collection of | | | | across the globe. Helium balloons have remained |
| perky, party friendly balloons! They're relatively | | | | popular accessories ever since, providing a burst |
| cheap, they come in all different shapes, sizes and | | | | of colourful decoration and resulting in high voiced |
| colours, and if you give one to a young child | | | | shenanigans on many a drunken night. You know |
| you're bound to get a gappy grin in return. | | | | who you are! |
| Balloons weren't always designed for fun and | | | | Today's market is brimming with printed balloons |
| amusement in the early days though. The Aztecs' | | | | designed to make a special occasion extra special. |
| earliest balloon prototypes were carefully scoured, | | | | Getting married? Get the bride and groom's name |
| turned inside out, sewn with an airtight seal made | | | | etched in gold. Just had a baby? A cute little |
| from vegetable thread and used as sacrifices to | | | | teddy bear balloon will look great in the nursery. |
| the gods. This ingenious invention was also seen in | | | | Balloon printing has become extremely fashionable |
| a series of cave engravings found inside the | | | | in the last few years thanks to advanced balloon |
| ancient pyramid of Mikerinos. It would seem that | | | | printing techniques and sturdier materials. With |
| balloons have been bouncing around for ages. | | | | such charming designs to choose from, catchy |
| The popularity of balloons continued to develop | | | | logos and increased longevity, the market for |
| over the centuries until just prior to the first | | | | printing balloons is positively booming. Go to a |
| world war when scientists discovered that these | | | | party, fair, circus, sale, trade show or any other |
| streamlined spectacles could be used to calculate | | | | event that offers a relief from the monotonous |
| ascension formulas for flying planes. Around this | | | | grind of work and routine and you'll bump into a |
| time hydrogen was the popular gas of choice due | | | | balloon. |
| to its unrivalled lifting power, however in the | | | | So next time you bump into everyone's favourite |
| 1920s, when the balloon began to be used for | | | | lightweight companion, remember they won't let |
| advertising purposes, hydrogen was replaced by | | | | you down until they pop! |
| helium due to its safer properties. | | | | |