Bonfire Night is a name given to various yearly events marked bybonfires andfireworks.[1] These includeGuy Fawkes Night (5 November) in Great Britain;All Hallows' Eve (31 October);May Eve (30 April);[2]Midsummer Eve/Saint John's Eve (23 June);[3] theEleventh Night (11 July) amongNorthern IrelandProtestants; and theFeast of the Assumption (15 August) among Northern IrelandCatholics.[4]
InGreat Britain, Bonfire Night is associated with the tradition of celebrating the failure ofGuy Fawkes' actions on 5 November 1605.[5] The British 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'ssectarian significance has generally been lost: it is now usually just a night of revelry with a bonfire and fireworks, although an effigy of Guy Fawkes is burned on the fire. Celebrations are held throughout Great Britain; in some non-Catholic communities in Northern Ireland;[6] and in some other parts of the Commonwealth. In many areas of the UK, celebrations also feature funfairs, family entertainment, and special food and drinks.[7] In the Canadian province ofNewfoundland and Labrador, 5 November is commemorated with bonfires and firework displays,[8] and it is officially celebrated inSouth Africa.[9]
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. Unlike 5 November the sectarian significance of 11 July is still strong. It celebrates theBattle of the Boyne of 1690, in which theProtestantWilliam of Orange defeated theCatholicJames II.[10]
In the city ofCork[3] and many rural parts of the Republic of Ireland "Bonfire Night" refers to 23 June, Saint John's Eve night. It has its origins in a religious celebration and originally featured prayers for bountiful crops.The night is linked to thesummer solstice orMidsummer's Eve. Originally fires were lit to honour the goddessÁine as part of a Celtic celebration; the Catholic Churchtook over the pagan festival and linked it to the birth ofSt John.[11][12] In the city ofLimerick, "Bonfire Night" is held on May Eve, 30 April, on the eve of the Celtic festival ofBealtaine.[2]
Bonfire celebrations can pose a risk to public safety due to the possibility of fires, injuries, or fights. For example, inLondon, calls to firefighting services are nearly tripled on Bonfire Night.[13] InBelfast, the July 2003 Eleventh Night resulted in £10,000 worth of damage to a park.[10] The use of fireworks may lead to dangerouspyrotechnic incidents. In parts of theCaribbean, laws banning fireworks and explosives have muted the occasion,[14] and safety concerns in New Zealand have resulted in restrictions on fireworks use, although public firework displays remain popular there.[15]
The tradition of Bonfire Night has been criticised for its environmental impact. A 1994 study conducted inOxford, England, found a four-fold increase indioxin andfuran concentration in the air after a Bonfire Night celebration.[16] 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.[17]
There are many food items that are associated with Bonfire Night.Toffee apples,treacle toffee,black peas andparkin, and even thejacket potato, are traditionally eaten around Bonfire Night in parts of England.[18][19][20] Also, some families eat soups to warm up on a cold night and toast marshmallows over the fire.[21]
Guy Fawkes' Nights – which are, after all, more commonly just called Bonfire or Firework Nights)