I really like Bonfire Night - to me it has always been a simple evening of enjoyment without any of the political-anthropological-NewAgey-social-religious overtones common to Hallowe'en.
Of course this isn't true - it's just that I have chosen to ignore them - it is actually an anti-Catholic celebration - but yet, as a Catholic family we always celebrated it with alacrity... I remember that waiting period when it got dark after one came home from school but we still had to wait until our father came home before we could have the bonfire and the fireworks. Going into the garden and being excited by the sight of other people's rockets in the sky. The weather being frequently appalling - vast amounts of smoke blowing into one's eyes, whereever one stood as the wind direction changed. Sparklers - and the smell of sparklers.
When I was a child we used to make a guy for the bonfire - now I wouldn't dream of it. Waste of good clothing! One could theme one's guy - with masks. In the 80s Mrs Thatcher masks were popular. Children used to make guys and use them to raise money for fireworks. Nowadays children aren't allowed to buy fireworks. I remember poring for hours over the fireworks cabinets that appeared in newsagents' shops, and wondering how many we could afford to buy. I made price lists and tried to work out how much we could have of each type. We saved up to buy ones we really liked which our parents didn't want, like jumping jacks. I don't think they make them any more - much too dangerous! Catherine wheels that didn't light - or got stuck. Bengal matches which burned with a green or red flame. And they were so cheap. Even the biggest rockets weren't more than 25p - or five shillings.
Last night's bonfire night one of the most beautiful fireworks, called The Wrath of the Gods cost £25. It was spectacularly lovely though. There was another called Many Flowers in a Village Garden which lasted for ages, about 12 different bursts with different colours and effects. Last year's favourites Monkeys Throwing Coconuts and Crabs doing something unusual were no longer available - the crab one had been particularly good, so it was rather a shame.
As usual the fireworks were chosen and organised by Ben - and he, my father and James paid for them. Which is why we have such fantastic displays. None of the little mixed £25 boxes of fireworks, of the kinds we usually enjoy ourselves - or would have if we had our own firework do. The trouble is, our display is usually rather better than the neighbours' shows. At one point one of the neighbouring houses had a rather good aerial firework that make a lot of light and noise. "Who dares to challenge the might of our fireworks?!" I thundered in my best Ming the Magnificent voice.
The tradition is - we (M and the boys) arrive in the afternoon and build the bonfire. I cook a bit and make mulled wine. Other people then arrive with different kinds of food. When everyone is there, we start drinking the mulled wine, and admire the bonfire - then we have sparklers - and then we watch the fireworks - we admire the bonfire a bit more and then we feast.
Last night we feasted on chili wraps, guacamole, baked potatoes, pork and beans, coleslaw, parkin (traditional gingery cakes), brownies and a very delicious gateau au fraises from a posh patisserie in SW7 - and some v. good Chateauneuf du Pape and some quite good Cotes du Rhone. Toffee apples? Pah!
Actually, this is becoming a food blog entry.
Bonfire night - before Hallowe'en was rediscovered in the UK - was obviously the descendant of the pagan fires of Samhain - but I've always experienced it as more friendly and sociable - it's not about huddling together in fear of the forces of evil - it's about being outdoors - with fires and light and being with other people in a positive way (even though the explosions of the fireworks might be about scaring away evil spirits). It always feels more like a festival than Hallowe'en does. Of course, the answer might be to reclaim Hallowe'en as a Christian festival - assert and proclaim the lives of the Saints and Souls.... which is clearly why the festival was put at this date (the earlier All Saints day was established in April - this one came about in 8th or 9th C - when no doubt pagan festivities connected with this time of year were still going fairly strong in Europe. So although I decry the fact that Hallowe'en seems a more popular event nowadays (there are far more retailing opportunities), it's clear that Bonfire Night is very closely related to it. Bonfires were part of Samhain I believe. The best thing would be to have a joint festivity.
Of course this isn't true - it's just that I have chosen to ignore them - it is actually an anti-Catholic celebration - but yet, as a Catholic family we always celebrated it with alacrity... I remember that waiting period when it got dark after one came home from school but we still had to wait until our father came home before we could have the bonfire and the fireworks. Going into the garden and being excited by the sight of other people's rockets in the sky. The weather being frequently appalling - vast amounts of smoke blowing into one's eyes, whereever one stood as the wind direction changed. Sparklers - and the smell of sparklers.
When I was a child we used to make a guy for the bonfire - now I wouldn't dream of it. Waste of good clothing! One could theme one's guy - with masks. In the 80s Mrs Thatcher masks were popular. Children used to make guys and use them to raise money for fireworks. Nowadays children aren't allowed to buy fireworks. I remember poring for hours over the fireworks cabinets that appeared in newsagents' shops, and wondering how many we could afford to buy. I made price lists and tried to work out how much we could have of each type. We saved up to buy ones we really liked which our parents didn't want, like jumping jacks. I don't think they make them any more - much too dangerous! Catherine wheels that didn't light - or got stuck. Bengal matches which burned with a green or red flame. And they were so cheap. Even the biggest rockets weren't more than 25p - or five shillings.
Last night's bonfire night one of the most beautiful fireworks, called The Wrath of the Gods cost £25. It was spectacularly lovely though. There was another called Many Flowers in a Village Garden which lasted for ages, about 12 different bursts with different colours and effects. Last year's favourites Monkeys Throwing Coconuts and Crabs doing something unusual were no longer available - the crab one had been particularly good, so it was rather a shame.
As usual the fireworks were chosen and organised by Ben - and he, my father and James paid for them. Which is why we have such fantastic displays. None of the little mixed £25 boxes of fireworks, of the kinds we usually enjoy ourselves - or would have if we had our own firework do. The trouble is, our display is usually rather better than the neighbours' shows. At one point one of the neighbouring houses had a rather good aerial firework that make a lot of light and noise. "Who dares to challenge the might of our fireworks?!" I thundered in my best Ming the Magnificent voice.
The tradition is - we (M and the boys) arrive in the afternoon and build the bonfire. I cook a bit and make mulled wine. Other people then arrive with different kinds of food. When everyone is there, we start drinking the mulled wine, and admire the bonfire - then we have sparklers - and then we watch the fireworks - we admire the bonfire a bit more and then we feast.
Last night we feasted on chili wraps, guacamole, baked potatoes, pork and beans, coleslaw, parkin (traditional gingery cakes), brownies and a very delicious gateau au fraises from a posh patisserie in SW7 - and some v. good Chateauneuf du Pape and some quite good Cotes du Rhone. Toffee apples? Pah!
Actually, this is becoming a food blog entry.
Bonfire night - before Hallowe'en was rediscovered in the UK - was obviously the descendant of the pagan fires of Samhain - but I've always experienced it as more friendly and sociable - it's not about huddling together in fear of the forces of evil - it's about being outdoors - with fires and light and being with other people in a positive way (even though the explosions of the fireworks might be about scaring away evil spirits). It always feels more like a festival than Hallowe'en does. Of course, the answer might be to reclaim Hallowe'en as a Christian festival - assert and proclaim the lives of the Saints and Souls.... which is clearly why the festival was put at this date (the earlier All Saints day was established in April - this one came about in 8th or 9th C - when no doubt pagan festivities connected with this time of year were still going fairly strong in Europe. So although I decry the fact that Hallowe'en seems a more popular event nowadays (there are far more retailing opportunities), it's clear that Bonfire Night is very closely related to it. Bonfires were part of Samhain I believe. The best thing would be to have a joint festivity.
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