Revision as of 13:49, 7 July 2011 editNikkimaria (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users232,747 edits moved Bonfire Night to Bonfire Night (disambiguation): disambig | Revision as of 01:29, 5 March 2015 edit undoEx nihil (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers10,243 edits →Food: No ref. at linked page.Next edit → | ||
(260 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{About|traditions of bonfire celebrations|other meanings of the term|Bonfire Night (disambiguation)}} | |||
] | |||
'''Bonfire Night''' is an annual event dedicated to ]s, ] and celebrations. Different traditions celebrate Bonfire Night on different days. Some of the most popular instances include ] in the ], which is also celebrated in some ] countries; ]'s ], a precursor to ]; 23 June in the ], and 5 of November in ]. Often known as ], a similar bonfire tradition survives in parts of ] and is known as ]. Several other cultures also include night-time celebrations involving bonfires and/or fireworks. | |||
==Significances== | |||
In England, Bonfire Night is associated with the tradition of celebrating the failure of Guy Fawkes' actions on 5 November.<ref name="walters">{{cite news |last=Walters |first=Guy |date=1 November 2011 |title=Is it anti-Catholic to celebrate Guy Fawkes' Night? |publisher=] |url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/guywalters/100061665/is-it-anti-catholic-to-celebrate-guy-fawkes-night/ |quote=Guy Fawkes' Nights – which are, after all, more commonly just called Bonfire or Firework Nights}})</ref> The English festival is, therefore, on 5 November, although some commercially-driven events are held at a weekend near to the correct date, to maximise attendance. Bonfire night's ] significance has generally been lost: it is now usually just a night of revelry with a bonfire and fireworks, although occasionally an effigy on Guy Fawkes is burned on the fire. Celebrations are held throughout England, Wales and include some non-Catholic communities in Northern Ireland, and in some other parts of the Commonwealth. In the Canadian province of ], 5 November is commemorated with bonfires and firework displays,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Public asked to keep environment in mind on Guy Fawkes night |url=http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2005/env/1104n02.htm | publisher = Government of Newfoundland | date = 4 November 2005 | accessdate = 23 March 2011}}</ref> and it is officially celebrated in ].<ref>{{Cite journal | title = Guy Fawkes Day in Cape Town | url = http://www.capetownmagazine.com/news/Guy-Fawkes-Day-in-Cape-Town/10_22_9571 | journal = Cape Town Magazine | accessdate = 23 March 2011}}</ref> | |||
In Northern Ireland, the term "Bonfire Night" can refer to the Eleventh Night celebrations of 11 July. Like 5 November, this Bonfire Night also has its roots in the sectarian struggle between Protestants and Catholics. It celebrates the ] of 1690, in which the ] ] defeated the ] ].<ref name=belfast>{{cite news|title=Bonfire repair bill revealed|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/3069141.stm|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=27 May 2011|date=15 July 2003}}</ref> The 23 June Bonfire Night in Ireland has its origins in a religious celebration and originally featured prayers for bountiful crops.<ref>{{cite web|last=Haggerty|first=Bridget|title=St. John's Eve in old Ireland|url=http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/acalend/stjohnseve.html|work=Irish Culture and Customs}}</ref> | |||
==Social impact== | |||
Bonfire Night celebrations can pose a risk to public safety due to the possibility of fires, injuries, or fights. For example, in ], calls to firefighting services are nearly tripled on Bonfire Night.<ref>{{cite news|last=Evans|first=Martin|title=Bonfire Night strikes: Prime Minister condemns firefighters' threat|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8088616/Bonfire-Night-strikes-Prime-Minister-condemns-firefighters-threat.html|accessdate=18 May 2011|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=26 October 2010|location=London}}</ref> In ], the July 2003 Bonfire Night resulted in £10,000 worth of damage to a park.<ref name="belfast"/> The use of fireworks may lead to dangerous ]. In parts of the ], laws banning fireworks and explosives have muted the occasion,<ref>{{Cite news | url = http://www.thestkittsnevisobserver.com/2010/10/29/fireworks-ban.html | title = Exploding Fireworks Being Mistaken for Gunfire | last = Brooks | first = Sheena | date = 29 October 2010 | newspaper=The St Kitts-Nevis Observer | accessdate = 9 November 2010}}</ref> and safety concerns in New Zealand have resulted in similar sales restrictions, although public firework displays remain popular there.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10474049 |title=Fireworks sales facing total ban as PM talks tough |newspaper=New Zealand Herald |date=5 November 2007 |first=Wayne |last=Thompson | accessdate = 23 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title = Sky Show to Light Up Wellington for Guy Fawkes | url = http://www.wellington.govt.nz/news/display-item.php?id=3352 | publisher = Government of New Zealand | date = 29 October 2008 | accessdate = 24 March 2011}}</ref> | |||
The tradition of Bonfire Night has been criticised for its environmental impact. A 1994 study conducted in ], England, found a four-fold increase in ] and ] concentration in the air after a Bonfire Night celebration.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Dyke|first=P|author2=Coleman, P |author3=James, Ray |title=Dioxins in ambient air, bonfire night 1994|journal=Chemosphere|date=4 March 1997|volume=34|issue=5-7|pages=1191–1201|doi=10.1016/S0045-6535(97)00418-9}}</ref> In 2005 a Bonfire Night in Newfoundland prompted the provincial Minister of Environment and Conservation to remind the general public of their responsibilities for safety and the environment.<ref>{{Citation |title=Public asked to keep environment in mind on Guy Fawkes night |url=http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2005/env/1104n02.htm}}</ref> | |||
==Food== | |||
There are many food items that are associated with Bonfire Night. ], ],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cloake|first1=Cloake|title=How to make the perfect cinder toffee|url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2014/oct/30/how-to-make-perfect-cinder-toffee|website=The Guardian|publisher=The Guardian|accessdate=5 November 2014}}</ref> ], ] and Catherine Wheel biscuits are traditionally eaten around Bonfire Night. | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist|30em}} | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] |
Revision as of 01:29, 5 March 2015
This article is about traditions of bonfire celebrations. For other meanings of the term, see Bonfire Night (disambiguation).Bonfire Night is an annual event dedicated to bonfires, fireworks and celebrations. Different traditions celebrate Bonfire Night on different days. Some of the most popular instances include Guy Fawkes Night in the United Kingdom, which is also celebrated in some Commonwealth countries; Northern Ireland's Eleventh Night, a precursor to The Twelfth; 23 June in the Republic of Ireland, and 5 of November in Newfoundland and Labrador. Often known as St John's Eve, a similar bonfire tradition survives in parts of Scandinavia and is known as Walpurgis Night. Several other cultures also include night-time celebrations involving bonfires and/or fireworks.
Significances
In England, Bonfire Night is associated with the tradition of celebrating the failure of Guy Fawkes' actions on 5 November. The English festival is, therefore, on 5 November, although some commercially-driven events are held at a weekend near to the correct date, to maximise attendance. Bonfire night's sectarian significance has generally been lost: it is now usually just a night of revelry with a bonfire and fireworks, although occasionally an effigy on Guy Fawkes is burned on the fire. Celebrations are held throughout England, Wales and include some non-Catholic communities in Northern Ireland, and in some other parts of the Commonwealth. In the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, 5 November is commemorated with bonfires and firework displays, and it is officially celebrated in South Africa.
In Northern Ireland, the term "Bonfire Night" can refer to the Eleventh Night celebrations of 11 July. Like 5 November, this Bonfire Night also has its roots in the sectarian struggle between Protestants and Catholics. It celebrates the Battle of the Boyne of 1690, in which the Protestant William of Orange defeated the Catholic James II. The 23 June Bonfire Night in Ireland has its origins in a religious celebration and originally featured prayers for bountiful crops.
Social impact
Bonfire Night celebrations can pose a risk to public safety due to the possibility of fires, injuries, or fights. For example, in London, calls to firefighting services are nearly tripled on Bonfire Night. In Belfast, the July 2003 Bonfire Night resulted in £10,000 worth of damage to a park. The use of fireworks may lead to dangerous pyrotechnic incidents. In parts of the Caribbean, laws banning fireworks and explosives have muted the occasion, and safety concerns in New Zealand have resulted in similar sales restrictions, although public firework displays remain popular there.
The tradition of Bonfire Night has been criticised for its environmental impact. A 1994 study conducted in Oxford, England, found a four-fold increase in dioxin and furan concentration in the air after a Bonfire Night celebration. In 2005 a Bonfire Night in Newfoundland prompted the provincial Minister of Environment and Conservation to remind the general public of their responsibilities for safety and the environment.
Food
There are many food items that are associated with Bonfire Night. Candy apple, Bonfire toffee, Black peas, Parkin and Catherine Wheel biscuits are traditionally eaten around Bonfire Night.
References
- Walters, Guy (1 November 2011). "Is it anti-Catholic to celebrate Guy Fawkes' Night?". The Daily Telegraph.
Guy Fawkes' Nights – which are, after all, more commonly just called Bonfire or Firework Nights
) - "Public asked to keep environment in mind on Guy Fawkes night". Government of Newfoundland. 4 November 2005. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
- "Guy Fawkes Day in Cape Town". Cape Town Magazine. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
- ^ "Bonfire repair bill revealed". BBC News. 15 July 2003. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
- Haggerty, Bridget. "St. John's Eve in old Ireland". Irish Culture and Customs.
- Evans, Martin (26 October 2010). "Bonfire Night strikes: Prime Minister condemns firefighters' threat". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- Brooks, Sheena (29 October 2010). "Exploding Fireworks Being Mistaken for Gunfire". The St Kitts-Nevis Observer. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
- Thompson, Wayne (5 November 2007). "Fireworks sales facing total ban as PM talks tough". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
- "Sky Show to Light Up Wellington for Guy Fawkes". Government of New Zealand. 29 October 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- Dyke, P; Coleman, P; James, Ray (4 March 1997). "Dioxins in ambient air, bonfire night 1994". Chemosphere. 34 (5–7): 1191–1201. doi:10.1016/S0045-6535(97)00418-9.
- Public asked to keep environment in mind on Guy Fawkes night
- Cloake, Cloake. "How to make the perfect cinder toffee". The Guardian. The Guardian. Retrieved 5 November 2014.