Salute is just the high tech name for anything that its primary purpose is to just blow up with a sound. Examples of a salute are firecrackers, M-80's (which are too powerful to be classified as firecrackers), and aerial salutes (an aerial shell with a flash powder charge). Salutes are very basic and easy to make.
Fancy method (not really, but fancier)
Materials:
Cardboard tube 1/8 inch walls (at least) any diameter
End caps (cardboard plugs and glue, or glue mixed with sawdust works well)
Powder (preferably flash, BP isn't good for these)
Fuse (make sure you have a good delay)
Procedure:
1. Plug one end with whatever you are using for plugs. Make sure it is strong.
2. Punch fuse hole (do this before putting any powder in!).
3. Stick the fuse in.
4. Pour in powder.
5. Plug other end.
Bum Style salute
Materials:
Casing
Powder
Fuse
Tape
Matches (optional)
Magnesium (optional)
Procedure:
1. Put fuse in. It could be in a hole already in the casing, or make one of an appropriate size.
2. Pour in powder and anything else (match heads, magnesium ect.)
3. Tape well. Wrap the whole thing in a lot of tape to make it strong.
Tape every area equally and especially make sure the ends are strong.