Elaine has posted about her Bonfire Night memories at Ramblings from Rosebank and took me back to mine. Proper Yorkshire Parkin (ginger cake to you!) and Toffee Apples; the fire on the green that had to be protected over Mischief Night or neighbouring kids would make off with the wood; boys throwing bangers about and making the Guy a week before so you could ask strangers for money for fireworks.
Another memory was building the fire in a neighbour's garden using her metal washing pole as the central support. It seemed like a great idea until ten minutes in when the pole started to vibrate. The rain water inside began to boil and suddenly spurted into the air like a volcano and put the fire out! Thankfully no one was hurt and we all had a good laugh and went to a different house to continue the celebration.
We are far more safety conscious these days thankfully!
Well, Bonfire Night here began last Saturday - 1st November - obviously there were some celebrations on the actual night but the main event is tonight. Fire, food and fireworks at the local sports ground. Hopefully it will have stopped raining by then!
And fireworks were inly allowed on Bonfire Night - rain or no rain. Unless November 5 was on a Sunday when it meant the celebrations had to be moved. Not allowed on a Sunday. At least this way animals that are frightened didn't have to suffer for more than one day. Some fireworks were more gentle and didn't bang just looked pretty - even rockets only whooshed.When was it decided that all fireworks had to make a loud bang and crackle?
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten that but yes you are right ... Bonfire Night any night but Sunday!
DeleteI spent my formative years in Yorkshire and don't recall it being called mischief night at all perhaps it depends on which part of Yorkshire you are in. Sounds like you had a lot fun getting into trouble - it's a wonder we all survived to live and tell the tale.
ReplyDeleteMischief Night was the night BEFORE Bonfire Night. Wooden gates had to be taken inside on our housing estate as kids pinched them to put on the fire. Lots of door knocking games and smearing jam on door handles or tying a washing line between the front door handle and a tree or gate post so the people inside were locked in! Bet old people hated it more than Halloween!
DeleteYea, I remember some great bonfire nights in Yorkshire, as a boy, definitely throwing bangers about and dropping them down drains too, trying to blow the metal covers off. We too had a fireworks factory near us which exploded and burnt down. I remember "progging" and "chumping" for weeks prior to bonfire night to get the materials for the bonfire and black treacle toffee sticky enough to seal your teeth together. No health and safety in those days, just keen lectures from parents on the dangers of fire and fireworks.
ReplyDeleteI remember chumping .... we lived near a wood so collecting for a fire was fairly easy but anything wooden was fair game! Like I said to Elaine wooden gates would disappear!
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