Everything about Bonfire totally explained
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See also campfire.
A
bonfire is a large controlled outdoor
fire. The word is a contraction of "bone fire" (cf. for example "kostjor" in Russian - from "kost'" meaning "bone"). The practice is believed to derive from the
Celtic festival of
Samhain when animal
bones were burnt to ward off evil
spirits.
In
Great Britain, bonfires are particularly associated with
Guy Fawkes Night (also known as
fireworks night or
bonfire night), an annual commemoration of the discovery of the
The Gunpowder Plot on
5 November 1605. In
Sussex they're particularly associated with the execution of
Protestant martyrs. In
Northern Ireland, they're associated with celebrations on the anniversary of the
Battle of the Boyne, which took place on
12 July 1690. Along with the
Maypole, it's an important component of the
Wiccan and
Neopagan celebration of
Beltaine, also known as
May Day. In the
United States, a bonfire is often held at the end of a
Homecoming rally.
On
Christmas Eve in Southern
Louisiana, bonfires are built along the
Mississippi River levees to light the way for
Santa Claus as he moves along the river with his skiff pulled by eight
alligators. This tradition is an annual event in
St. James Parish,
Louisiana.
(Bonfire)
International variants
In many regions of continental Europe, bonfires are made traditionally on
24 June, which is, for
Roman Catholics, the
solemnity of
John the Baptist, but as well on Saturday night before Easter. The rite is, however, older, and originally was a
pagan celebration of the summer
solstice and hence celebrated as "
midsummer" on
21 June.
In North-Eastern
Italy, bonfires are held on the
Epiphany day (6th of January). On top of the bonfire, a straw witch dressed with old clothes is placed. The tradition probably has a pre-Christian origin, symbolizing the old year, which is burnt and which is then ready to be born again.
In
Denmark, the bonfires are held on the night of the 23rd of June, combined with the burning of a witch made from straw and clothes.
In
Ireland, bonfires are always held on the night of
31 October to celebrate
Halloween. In certain areas of Ireland, particularly in
Limerick, bonfires are held on
30 April to celebrate the festival of
Beltane.
In
Iceland, bonfires are traditional on
New Year's Eve, and on
January 6, which is the last day of the Icelandic Christmas season.
In
Japan, large fires called bon-bi are set to welcome the return of the spirits of the ancestors. Though the two terms are not etymologically or historically related, they serve similar
purposes and indicate the universal importance of large fires.
In
Israel, in the eve of
Lag Ba'Omer, youngsters and their parents light bonfires in open spaces in cities and towns throughout the country. One knows that Lag Ba'Omer is drawing near when children begin collecting wood boards, old doors, and anything made from wood that can burn. This happens from a week to 10 days before Lag Ba'Omer. As Lag Ba'Omer approaches, the situation gets to the point where building contractors have to employ extra night watchmen to make sure that wooden planks and scaffolding are not taken by the eager youngsters. And, of course, the fire department is kept very busy on Lag Ba'Omer eve when the bonfires are lit and where the danger exists of fires getting out of control.
In
Slovenia, bonfires are traditionally held on the evening before
May 1, commemorating
Labour Day.
The bonfire is part of a ritual of purification and consecration. In ancient times,
cattle, important symbols of wealth and status, were led through the smoke of a bonfire. Couples who were to be
wed on May Day would leap through the flames of the bonfire to seal their vows.
Coals from a bonfire would be taken home to light the fires in family
hearths, a practice thought to bring good
fortune. It was also believed that the residents of the
Faery realm were incapable of producing fire themselves; embers of bonfires would be carried to the
underworld and tended there.
Nine types of wood are commonly placed into a traditional
Wiccan balefire. Collectively these are known as "The Nine Woods" or "Nine Woods". These woods are
Birch (representing The Goddess, or female energy),
Oak (representing The God, or male energy)
Hazel (representing knowledge and wisdom)
Rowan (Mountain Ash) (representing life)
Common Hawthorn (representing purity and fairy magick)
Willow (representing death),
Fir (representing birth and rebirth),
Apple (representing love and family), and
Vine. In some regions, superstition, religious belief, or tradition prohibits the cutting of certain trees, most notably in
Witchcraft customs the
Elderberry tree; "Elder be ye Lady's tree, burn it not or cursed ye'll be" --A rhyme from an
Oral tradition.
Gallery
Image:Large bonfire.jpg
Image:Bonfire3.jpg
Image:Bonfire2.jpg
Image:Bonfire4.jpg
Image:Bonfire_inferno.jpg|A Wiccan bonfire or balefire
Image:BonfireinBraniel.JPG|An obviously-unlit bonfire in the Braniel, Northern Ireland
Image:Aggiebonfire2005.jpg|Aggie Bonfire
Image:Garden bonfire.jpg
Further Information
Get more info on 'Bonfire'.
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