Bonfire Night

[callmemadam]

It's getting dusky already and for some reason I'm remembering how we used to peer out of the window on Bonfire Night longing for the dark and the excitement to come. I used to read this book to get me in the mood. In those pre-health and safety days there'd be a bonfire and fireworks in almost every back garden. We were allowed not only to buy fireworks ourselves but to keep them in our bedrooms. We bought the little ones, 'holding fireworks' as they were known ('Always Hold in Gloved Hand'); Golden Rain, Silver Fountain, sparklers. The catherine wheels and rockets were left to the grownups.



It was one of the great events of the year and Hallowe'en didn't exist for us. Bonfire Night is still taken seriously in places like Lewes but you only have to look at the shops to know that the time of year has been Americanised. Shame. It was such fun going into the foggy garden next morning (the weather has changed, too!) looking for dead rockets with the smell of old smoke and chrysanthemums hanging in the air.

Here's Adrian Mole on the subject:
Friday November 6th
Last night some irresponsible people down our street had bonfire parties in their own back gardens!
Yes!
In spite of being warned of all the dangers by the radio, television, Blue Peter and the media they went selfishly ahead.

Saturday November 7th
The Marriage Guidance Council bonfire was massive. It was a good community effort....
Nobody was seriously burned but I think it was a mistake to hand out fireworks at the same time the food was being served.

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole by Sue Townsend, 1982

Comments

[wardy.livejournal.com]

I can remember reading that book before I myself turned teenager. Although I thought it was hilarious, it also made me worry. "Oh great...is THIS what I have to look forward to?!?"

Wardy

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Spots and girl trouble? Bad luck! Luckily I was already grown up when I read the book and I still love it now.

[rosathome.livejournal.com]

I always wondered what sort of protection they thought the gloves would provide. Acrylic gloves would probably melt and cause terrible burns.

[wardy.livejournal.com]

Got it in one!

"Hey Wardy, what's wrong?"

"Girl trouble..."

"You don't have a girlfriend, do you?"

"No...that's the trouble!"

Wardy

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Hee!

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

*Of course* our gloves were woollen! Luckily there were never any accidents.

[lethe1]

Hare looks rather like Peter Rabbit...

Haha, good old Adrian. I really must (re)read his diaries next year. I only have the first two volumes, but my library has the complete set. :) (It also surprised me by having the DVD of Withnail and I, which I understand is something of a cult film in Britain. I'm very curious to see it.)

Enjoy Bonfire Night!

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Hare is a pain and lets Little Grey Rabbit wait on him hand and foot.

I reread the whole lot every now and then but the first two are the best.

Thank you! So far, I haven't heard a single bang! People must be waiting for Saturday, which is *wrong*.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Glad you're keeping up the old traditions :-)

Milk bottle? Of course! No, I don't like Woman's Hour so missed Sue Townsend. I admire her so much, coping with blindness.

[6p00d834eb38c969e2 [typepad.com] (from livejournal.com)]

I had that Little Grey Rabbit book when I was little. It's so charming! Mum and I thought of you yesterday as we were spending the afternoon in Wimborne. I bought a cloche hat in Mine!

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I really love the book!

Hope you're pleased with the hat. I was gardening!

[louise culmer (from livejournal.com)]

i loved Little Grey Rabbit as a child, still like them. hare and guy Fawlkes was one of my favourites. however, Halloween is much older than Guy Fawkes night as a celebration, it was important in medieval England but died out afte the Reformation, though continued to be celebrated in Scotland. I remember my father, who was Scottish, making turnip lanters at Halloween like they did in his childhood. I imagine Scottish and Irish immigrants took Halloween to America, and now it has come back to us. jolly good thing.