Bonfire Night, Coryton

Remember, remember the 5th of November.

Thanks to the O'Neills for a great bonfire party.

Bonfire Night and Guy, near Tavistock

Commemorating the failed plot of Guy Fawkes in 1605 to blow up Parliament, bonfire night came about because King James introduced an act that forced people to celebrate the plot's failure by having bonfires on November 5th.  The whole plot was about religion; the protestants suppressing the catholics.  Religion seems to be somewhat prevalent in the root cause of so many conflicts, methinks.

Strangely, it also ties in with Samhain, a Gaelic festival at the end of the harvest season that goes back at least to the 10th Century, when bonfires were lit.  These festivals were seen as when a 'door' to the otherworld was opened so that the souls of the dead could travel across and be celebrated.  All Soul's Day, All Saint's Day, Hallowmas, All Hallow's Eve, Halloween, the Day of the Dead.... the renaming of ideas and festivals is particularly evident at this time of year.

Still, I love a good bonfire and firework display.