Remember remember the fifth of November

all photos keith d hillman

Remember remember
the fifth of November,
gunpowder treason and plot.
I see no reason
why gunpowder, treason,
should ever be forgot.

I’ve just returned from Lewes Bonfire night. I smell of smoke and my ears are ringing from the explosions of firecrackers. My mind is still whirling with images and sounds of this fantastic celebration.

Background

The biggest night of the year in England is Guy Fawkes Night on the fifth of November each year. Most towns and villages have their own societies which ensure that the country is ablaze with bonfires, fireworks, torchlight processions and fancy dress on this special night. It marks the uncovering of the Gunpowder Plot, when Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators loaded the cellars of the Houses of Parliament with explosives in a failed attempt to blow them up.

That was in 1605. Tonight, 402 years later, I was one of 60.000 people crowded into the narrow streets of the nearby market town of Lewes, which hosts the biggest Bonfire Night event in England.

Also on this day, the town commemorates the burning at the stake of 17 protestant martyrs outside the Star Inn during the Marian Persecutions of 1555 - 1507. 17 burning crosses are carried through the town to the memorial where prayers are said for the departed souls. Each year an effigy of the Pope is carried aloft then burned.

The event

The day started with the ear splitting boom of a maroon at dawn. During the day, tension mounted in expectation of the festivities to come.


Whilst most places have one Bonfire Society, Lewes boasts no less than seven! They all have their own names, identities and colourful hooped jumper ‘uniforms’. Each of them creates their own tableau which are massive works of art and are often made behind closed doors by a handful of people prior to the event. This skilled work is often carried out by family members who have handed down the task down from generation to generation. The main ones are of Guy Fawkes himself and of course, the Pope. Many are of topical characters who the locals feel deserved be burned at the end of the evening, and others are based on topics currently in the news for whatever reason. In 2001 Osama bin Laden was featured attracting much attention from the national press. President Bush was also featured one year sitting astride a missile. This year the biggest was a 20 feet high model of the Beatles in recognition of the 40th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper. Another was a giant cigarette on which the words ’Smoking gone - alcohol next’. One society also carried pikes on which were fixed the heads of the Enemies of the Bonfire. These are nationally reviled figures and local officials who over the years have tried unsuccessfully to stop the annual celebration.

During the evening there were several processions, the biggest of which was the Grand Procession in which all the Lewes Societies join forces with those from other local towns and villages. It took three and a half hours to pass by. Thousands of flaming torches were held aloft and the street reverberated to the sound of one marching band after another. The fancy dress worn by the members was truly breathtaking. Native Indians in full feathered headgear, Zulu warriors and Tudor ladies to name but a few. They stopped at the War Memorial for prayers then each society marched in different directions to their own bonfire and fireworks site.

The most poignant moment was a tribute to the fallen of the two great wars and the Falkland campaign.. Veterans paraded along, some in wheelchairs pushed by young people wearing WW2 uniforms. At the War Memorial 4 enormous red poppies were held high along with a flaming banner bearing the words 'Less We Forget' as the last post played and the crowd was invited to join in with singing Abide With Me.

One of the highlights of the night was the traditional rolling of a flaming tar barrel down the steep main street from where it was tossed into the river Ouse symbolising the throwing into the water of the magistrates after they read the Riot Act to the Bonfire Societies in 1847.
So there you have it. An orgy of bad taste, history and unadulterated fun. The night when the PC brigade are put in their place and a finger firmly raised to all those who continue to try to have it stopped. Long may it continue.

A penny loaf to feed the Pope
A farthing o' cheese to choke him.
A pint of beer to rinse it down.
A faggot of sticks to burn him.

And finally …

I have never seen such an enormous police presence. Hundreds of them in yellow jackets and all wearing protective goggles. Crowd control is clearly a problem when so many people congregate in one small place and they did a fantastic job, particularly after the event when a sea of folk headed down the steep main street toward the railway station. As all the approach roads to Lewes had been closed for most of the day, the only way in and out was by the trains which ran in all directions every few minutes. At the station they carried out strict controls at the entrances to the platforms. The event went off without a single incident, and at all times the police were good humoured and contributed in no small way to the success of the evening.

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click here to see more photos of Lewes bonfire celebrations

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WRITERS ISLAND - UNFORGETTABLE click here

About Hallowe'en

Hallowe'en, or All Hallows, is one of the oldest celebrations in the world and was started 2000 years ago by the Celts who lived in Scotland, Ireland and Northern England. It was originally known by the name Samhain (pronounced ‘sow-in’) and took place on November 1st each year.

It marked the transition from the 'Season of Sun' - Summer, to that of 'Darkness and Cold' - Winter.

It was believed that evil spirits arrived with the long hours of darkness, and that resistance to them was at it’s lowest on that night. Centuries later the last night of October was transformed by the church into the Eve of All Hallows. It believed that Jesus, the light of the world would conquer darkness and evil.

Fire was very important to the Celts. They believed that light had power over darkness.On Hallowe'en night Celts danced around bonfires in order to bring comfort for lost souls, and ward off the newly arrived evil spirits. One English custom was ‘Lating’ or Lighting the Witches. They made torches from straw and thought that if they burned from 11pm until midnight they were safe for the season. If the witches blew them out it was a bad omen.

Nuts were also burned on the fires, and the way in which they burned forecast faithfulness in sweethearts and marriage.

Jack-o-lanterns, hollowed out pumpkins with faces carved from one side, were named after a man called Jack . He was a miser and was refused entry to heaven. The devil also turned him away because Jack had played jokes on him. He was forced to walk the earth for the rest of eternity carrying a lamp.

Halloween was also known as Snap Apple Night when apples were hung from strings, and contestants had to eat them without using their hands.Also apples bobbing was popular and based on an activity played out in the Roman festival in which they remembered Pomana - the goddess of fruit and trees. When the Romans came to Britain they brought this tradition with them and played it out on the same date as Hallowe'en.

The modern tradition of Trick or Treat has its routes in Souling. People would move from house to house begging for Soul Cakes and in return would say prayers for the donors’ deceased relatives. Centuries later it became known as Mischief Night when young boys played jokes on their neighbours and demanded food from nervous householders.

The tradition of dressing up dates back to Celtic times when it was thought that doing so would prevent spirits from recognising you. You may even be mistaken for fellow spirits and left alone.

And girls, did you know that at Halloe'en, if you place a candle beside a mirror then look into it as you comb your hair or eat an apple, you will see the image of your future husband looking over your shoulder! Also if you place an apple under your pillow when you go to bed you will dream of your future man. That’s not all! Peel and apple so that the peel comes off in one length, then throw it over your shoulder the shape it lands in will be the initial of your future lover!

If you are scared on Halloween night, ring a bell. Spirits don’t like it. If you meet a witch put your clothes on inside out and walk backwards. If you see a spider it will be the soul of a dead relative watching you.

As for me, the only tradition I follow is to drink a pint of Hobgoblin Ale! Nectar!

By the way - Halloween was introduced to North America by Irish immigrants following the potato famine in 1845. Commercialisation began about 1905 with the introduction of postcards which were sent between friends to wish them safe. It wasn’t until 1930 that the traditions such as dressing up and Trick or Treat became commonplace.