Bonfire night

Sandy_123

Bonfire night is here again. Although the fireworks have been going off for ages now and probably will until new years.

A link below gives the meaning of bonfire and why it's celebrated

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/real-story-of-bonfire-night/

Sandy_123

The best bonfire night I went to, was at an army base, my brother was in the army and they did the hugest bonfire I had ever seen, I was about 10 or there abouts.

I don't see many bonfires now but the fire works are non stop

Sandy_123

I like new years fireworks I always wait for them

Rosie_Scope

I was going to make a post about this today asking if anyone still had a bonfire! Great minds think alike, hey 😁

It's all centred around fireworks where I live, I've never seen any events involving bonfires. They used to do a big one with a Guy as a fundraiser for the Scout hut back when I was little with toffee apples and sparklers, that was always a good night. But that was many many years ago now.

We've had constant fireworks for the past few nights too, there's been a lot of different celebrations going on!

Sandy_123

A lot of people want them banned for personal use and used only for displays, reasons that the fireworks are now a lot bigger and louder, they are going off late at night ,way past 11pm.

Animals are terrified of them, especially horses in fields, anyone who has fought in wars, it can be a trigger.

But I think that's way off a debate in the gov.

Rosie_Scope

There was a discussion on here a few days ago, lots of people agreed that they're getting too loud and constant. I do think we could do with some tougher regulations around what the public can do with fireworks, it can be really scary for animals and people who struggle with loud noises.

The RSPCA have some tips to keep pets safe during fireworks in case anyone's looking for ideas. Classic FM play calming music all night to help pets cope too.

michael57

for a country pushing for cleaner air i would have thought it would of been banned years ago the smoke from bonfires and fireworks linger in the atmosphere for days leading to higher greenhouse emissions i am afraid its the case of money talks

Albus_Scope

And don't forget to check any bonfires for hedgehogs and slowworms beforehand. 😊

Sandy_123

True @michael57 that's also a good point @Albus_Scope

We already have fire works

michael57

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/936547#Comment_936547

never bought any in my life even when the kids were young apart from a pack of sparklers happy to say my kids do the same but saying that i do not begrudge people for having them whatsoever and enjoying themselves

Sandy_123

Ive bought them in the past my son has bought some tonight, puts my anxiety on edge. I'm sure the kids will enjoy them. I wouldn't buy any now.

luvpink

I don't know many places in the area where I live that have actual bonfires anymore other than country pubs and social clubs but people do tend to let a lot of fireworks off for weeks on end.

When I grew up in the 1970's in a large cul-de-sac bonfire night was a huge event where a family would light a bonfire and all of us would attend and then another family would light their bonfire and fireworks until each household on the estate had done theirs and then we would all feast on hot dogs, burgers etc.

Such happy times we had.

kitsmum

@Sandy_123 The best bonfire nights for me were at Army camps. They had a military band sometimes playing an accompaniment to the fireworks. They were amazing. Don't think I'd manage something like that now though due to becoming sensitive to noise. The food stalls were really good as well.

Had fireworks going off on our estate for days now and they sound like gunshots. The poor dogs next door have not been happy.

chiarieds

As a child I remember there was rivalry between 2 lots of some of the older children. 2 bonfires were built, but then some of the old furniture would be 'liberated' from one bonfire for the other. Naturally there was some retaliation, so it was always interesting watching for days to see which would be the biggest bonfire to go & see!

Prior to that some children used to push a 'Guy' around in an old pram, or pull it around on a bogie (not sure of spelling) which was a plank of wood to which were attached 4 old pram wheels, saying 'Penny for the Guy.'

I did use to make fireworks (well eventually a few that worked after much experimentation). I'm not sure now what I liberated from my unknowing parents household to do this!

I don't think you hear about conker fights much either. Probably just as well as I received plenty of rapped knuckles, tho rarely a win.

I think some traditions are dying out; for some reasons it's good, but I do have happy memories of others, even the conker fights!

I think when it was a bonfire or fireworks just on 5th Nov it was fine, but when it can now be fireworks until the New Year, that's not so good for people or their pets.

Sandy_123

@kitsmum I don't remember a band might of been one. It was a very long time ago. Yeah the fire works seem to be a pain now.

@chiarieds home made fire works 😲 lol,

luvpink

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/937496#Comment_937496

I agree.

Those nights were amazing.