Bonfire Day

On November 5th, people in England celebrate Guy Fawkes day. {Or at least they used to when I was a kid–I have been gone from England since 1963.}

When I was considerably younger, I remember that one year, our whole street celebrated this holiday as a group. Our back yard was one of the several places where we accumulated burnable rubbish for weeks before the big event. One year I remember particularly was the year that my father built the Guy. This was a scarecrow-type effigy, clothed in some of my fathers old clothes stuffed with flammable stuff who sat on top of the fire. The part I remember the most was helping my father stuff the Guy’s pockets with fireworks!

In the morning, all the adults brought out their burnable trash and stacked it in the middle of the street. The effigy of Guy Fawkes was hoisted to the top of the huge pile of boxes and paper. Since my father was a policemen, he had seen to the requisite permit for closing off our street to traffic. This was a fairly easy permit to get because our street was not a major traffic artery! As it got dark all the people in our street came out and to watch and all the kids ran around screaming. The fire was lighted and as the flames reacher the effigy, the fireworks in his pockets went off with a huge bang!

I remember raking half-cooked potatoes out of the fire as it died down and sprinkling them with salt before we ate them, burned bits, raw bits and all! The final thing we did was to jump the fire. Of course, by then it was very low, but it was still hot and it took a considerable amount of bravery on my part to do it. Our street was a hill and I can remember working out that I should get on the downhill side in my run-up to the fire because I would then be able to jump giving myself a little more speed and height!

QUOTATIONS:

"There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way."

Christopher Darlington Morley (1890-1957)

gray tabby

November 5, 2008

sounds like an interesting time. that jumping over the fire would have required much bravery on my part. take care,

🙂 How funny to read you today when all eyes are on America and its new President. You won’t believe that I had intended to talk about this in two of my classes and completely forgot in all of the excitement. gosh, you used to jump the fire??? Fires are so huge these days that it would be totally unimagineable. Fortunately Sean has discovered this tradition when he was in Scotland two years ago, so I’m suspecting that it may also be introduced to our child when s/he is a bit bigger.

TheWoodsprite

ooh it sounds like wonderous fun! When we lived in England (from 1988-91) they seemed to have bonfires in every town! We LOVED it! Bonfire Night was our favorite day of the year, next to Christmas. They have the best fireworks EVER! And such huuuuge fires…. WOW! One we went to was as tall as a house! Thanks for writing about how it was celebrated in your neighborhood when you were a child. :o) !! hugs, Weesprite

BedlamHillFarm

Remember, remember the Fifth of November, The Gunpowder Treason and Plot, I can think of no reason Why the Gunpowder Treason Should ever be forgot. Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t’was his intent To blow up the King and Parli’ment. Three-score barrels of powder below To prove old England’s overthrow; By God’s providence he was catch’d With a dark lantern and burning match. Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring. Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

Violet

I wonder if they still do that…I doubt it with all the “don’t do anything that might hurt you” people around. Sounds like your street had a howling good time.

Pat

What a cool tradition! I probably would not have been one of the brave jumpers though. LOL

Orange Sorbet

It’s surprisingly quiet here tonight. I’ve only heard a few bangs so far, and the days leading up to it have been quiet as well. It’s damp and drizzly though, so it will just be fireworks for most people without the bonfire!

Oh yes, it’s still celebrated if the loud bangs I’m hearing right now are anything to go by. 😉

Ignore my last note as the firework displays are really loud and colourful an hour later!!

Mezzo

Thanks for sharing that. I can shut my eyes and see it all! Nothing like that in my memory banks, but back in the day before all the environmental issues, people used to burn their leaves….that’s about as close as I can get. Love ya! ~M

daisymayhem

This was fun to hear… and I even learned something!

Bonfire night!!! The fireworks are the best part of it!