My Grandpa set up a little display when I was 7 years old or so. Every time I see a Catherine Wheel, I think of him.
When I was about 5, my Dad bought some of those indoor fireworks. He lit one, and it oozed what looked like greyish foam lol
These days, me and hubby take the kids onto the bridge next to the local cricket club to watch their organised display. We watch the fireworks and drink hot chocolate. Then we go home, eat Daddy's Special Burgers, and then get the sparklers out.
When we were children we lived on a farm in the middle of a tiny hamlet - over the year Pa would accumulate burnable farm rubbish and 'stuff' in a corner of the yard, then the weekend before 5 Nov he and some of the other dads would load it all into a trailer and Pa would drive it down the road into the field behind the wood, other families would bring any burnable rubbish they had - if there was big stuff Pa would go and get it with the tractor and trailor, and then they'd all build a big bonfire and my brother and me and some of the other children would make a guy and on the Big Day we would take it down to the field on a pram trolley.
On 5th November all the children who lived around us (very few - only 13 of us at the village school!) and their parents would bring fireworks and each Dad would take turns in letting off their familiy's fireworks. . Mums would sit well back on bales of straw and be in charge of flasks of soup (usually Knorr minestrone I seem to remember) and when all the fireworks were over we children would ignite our sparklers on the embers at the edge of the bonfire and Ma would take us home. Pa and the other dads would stay with the fire until it had died right down and then he'd come home, smelling of bonfire
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
We used to have communal bonfires and everyone would let fireworks off nearby, so everyone shared. There was always a badly made Guy and outside the shops boys would ask a penny for the Guy.
Did not see a single bonfire yesterday and people where still setting off fireworks late at night, so I think it has become a personal, let's set off fireworks rather than a social event for many. The 'Guy's' have been consigned to history.
I loved going down to the local cricket club with friends and family, we used to know everyone there, all the local schools etc used to advertise it and there was a really sense of community. In recent years the bigger displays seem to be attracting more people and our little community seems to be getting smaller...its a shame I think!
I saw a blog on the gardencommunity.co.uk website about how traditions such as bonfire night change and evolve too,...I just hope that the community aspect in all our festivals dont dissapear and turn in to one big money making circus!
oh and P.S is it just my family that have a home cooked chilli on bonfire night tradition??? lol
I've not seen a "penny for the Guy" for a few years now. I believe it's down to the hyping up of hallowe'en in the last few years (because of American films and retailers) and that's really sad...
I think it's more likely that modern sensibilties quail at the sight of what appears to be a human figure being burned on a fire. We're all more exposed to the horrors of video news reports nowadays and I think we're just a bit more sensitive about it.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Think you are right Dove - i always hated guys for that reason. OH suggested one this year and i wouldn't let him - my youngest would have nightmares for weeks
We always have a bonfire night get together, my two kids love making the guy and we always build a bonfire in our field. The guy always comes in the kitchen before being carried out to be plonked on the top with all the kids carrying flaming torches so they can all light the bonfire.
Then family and friends all bring a firework or some rockets which i let off in the garden then all inside for a plate of chili or sausages and a glass or two for the grownups! Love it!!!
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Lewes do a good display, also have seen a really good one at littlehampton. We also took our boys to Lingfield race course for good displays too
Awww, love to you Archie
My Grandpa set up a little display when I was 7 years old or so. Every time I see a Catherine Wheel, I think of him.
When I was about 5, my Dad bought some of those indoor fireworks. He lit one, and it oozed what looked like greyish foam lol
These days, me and hubby take the kids onto the bridge next to the local cricket club to watch their organised display. We watch the fireworks and drink hot chocolate. Then we go home, eat Daddy's Special Burgers, and then get the sparklers out.
lol just remembered when I was about 13 or so, the biker boys from a few doors up lit their bonfire and set the fence on fire lol
When we were children we lived on a farm in the middle of a tiny hamlet - over the year Pa would accumulate burnable farm rubbish and 'stuff' in a corner of the yard, then the weekend before 5 Nov he and some of the other dads would load it all into a trailer and Pa would drive it down the road into the field behind the wood, other families would bring any burnable rubbish they had - if there was big stuff Pa would go and get it with the tractor and trailor, and then they'd all build a big bonfire and my brother and me and some of the other children would make a guy and on the Big Day we would take it down to the field on a pram trolley.
On 5th November all the children who lived around us (very few - only 13 of us at the village school!) and their parents would bring fireworks and each Dad would take turns in letting off their familiy's fireworks. . Mums would sit well back on bales of straw and be in charge of flasks of soup (usually Knorr minestrone I seem to remember) and when all the fireworks were over we children would ignite our sparklers on the embers at the edge of the bonfire and Ma would take us home. Pa and the other dads would stay with the fire until it had died right down and then he'd come home, smelling of bonfire
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
We used to have communal bonfires and everyone would let fireworks off nearby, so everyone shared. There was always a badly made Guy and outside the shops boys would ask a penny for the Guy.
Did not see a single bonfire yesterday and people where still setting off fireworks late at night, so I think it has become a personal, let's set off fireworks rather than a social event for many. The 'Guy's' have been consigned to history.
I loved going down to the local cricket club with friends and family, we used to know everyone there, all the local schools etc used to advertise it and there was a really sense of community. In recent years the bigger displays seem to be attracting more people and our little community seems to be getting smaller...its a shame I think!
I saw a blog on the gardencommunity.co.uk website about how traditions such as bonfire night change and evolve too,...I just hope that the community aspect in all our festivals dont dissapear and turn in to one big money making circus!
oh and P.S is it just my family that have a home cooked chilli on bonfire night tradition??? lol
Nobody makes Guys anymore
I've not seen a "penny for the Guy" for a few years now. I believe it's down to the hyping up of hallowe'en in the last few years (because of American films and retailers) and that's really sad...
I think it's more likely that modern sensibilties quail at the sight of what appears to be a human figure being burned on a fire. We're all more exposed to the horrors of video news reports nowadays and I think we're just a bit more sensitive about it.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Then family and friends all bring a firework or some rockets which i let off in the garden then all inside for a plate of chili or sausages and a glass or two for the grownups! Love it!!!