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| Bonfire Night: Are these traditions fizzling out? | Bonfire Night: Are these traditions fizzling out? |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Bonfire Night has long been a loud and colourful celebration of the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot. But while we remember the 5th of November have some of its traditions been forgotten? | Bonfire Night has long been a loud and colourful celebration of the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot. But while we remember the 5th of November have some of its traditions been forgotten? |
| Penny for the Guy | Penny for the Guy |
| Generations of families have fashioned Guy Fawkes dummies to burn atop bonfires. | Generations of families have fashioned Guy Fawkes dummies to burn atop bonfires. |
| Children would stuff old clothes with newspaper and wheelbarrow their effigy around asking for money to buy fireworks. | Children would stuff old clothes with newspaper and wheelbarrow their effigy around asking for money to buy fireworks. |
| But blogger Sally Bunkham from Brighton said the tradition was not one she wanted to pass on to her daughters Daisy, five and Ruby, aged four. | But blogger Sally Bunkham from Brighton said the tradition was not one she wanted to pass on to her daughters Daisy, five and Ruby, aged four. |
| "I don't think you get as many Guys because of the violent aspect of burning an effigy," she said. "Personally, I'd rather not impose that tradition on my kids. | "I don't think you get as many Guys because of the violent aspect of burning an effigy," she said. "Personally, I'd rather not impose that tradition on my kids. |
| "But in Lewes they go mad for it and it gets quite political. Last year they burned a giant effigy of Boris Johnson," she said. | "But in Lewes they go mad for it and it gets quite political. Last year they burned a giant effigy of Boris Johnson," she said. |
| Justine Roberts, founder of Mumsnet, said the general consensus among the website's users was that Penny for the Guy had all but been forgotten. | Justine Roberts, founder of Mumsnet, said the general consensus among the website's users was that Penny for the Guy had all but been forgotten. |
| "It's not that children don't get excited, go out in the dark and ask strangers for gifts; it's just that now, they do that on Halloween," she said. | "It's not that children don't get excited, go out in the dark and ask strangers for gifts; it's just that now, they do that on Halloween," she said. |
| But in Cocking in West Sussex there is a burning desire to keep the Guy tradition alive. | But in Cocking in West Sussex there is a burning desire to keep the Guy tradition alive. |
| Villagers held their first Guy building competition ahead of a Bonfire Night to raise money for the Blue Bell Community Hub. | Villagers held their first Guy building competition ahead of a Bonfire Night to raise money for the Blue Bell Community Hub. |
| "A number of entries were displayed throughout the village during the week leading up to the bonfire and fireworks party," said Chris Malec. | "A number of entries were displayed throughout the village during the week leading up to the bonfire and fireworks party," said Chris Malec. |
| "When our daughter in the US saw our Guy on WhatsApp she recognised her shirt and wanted it back so on the morning of the bonfire it had a change of clothes." | "When our daughter in the US saw our Guy on WhatsApp she recognised her shirt and wanted it back so on the morning of the bonfire it had a change of clothes." |
| Back garden fireworks | Back garden fireworks |
| For some, childhood memories of Bonfire Night conjure up a smoky back garden spectacular centred around a selection box of fireworks and a packet of sparklers. | For some, childhood memories of Bonfire Night conjure up a smoky back garden spectacular centred around a selection box of fireworks and a packet of sparklers. |
| But each year, petitions are launched calling to ban sales of fireworks to the public over concerns about safety, noise and distress to pets. | But each year, petitions are launched calling to ban sales of fireworks to the public over concerns about safety, noise and distress to pets. |
| Sainsbury's became the first major supermarket to stop selling fireworks but would not reveal why. | Sainsbury's became the first major supermarket to stop selling fireworks but would not reveal why. |
| Far fewer people are injured at organised events than at smaller family or private parties, according to RoSPA. | Far fewer people are injured at organised events than at smaller family or private parties, according to RoSPA. |
| Ms Bunkham said social media made her think twice about setting off fireworks in her back garden. | Ms Bunkham said social media made her think twice about setting off fireworks in her back garden. |
| "You get to see a lot of posts about frightened animals crying and quivering in a corner or children burning their fingers on sparklers," she said. | "You get to see a lot of posts about frightened animals crying and quivering in a corner or children burning their fingers on sparklers," she said. |
| Bonfire Night got a very mixed reaction from parents and pet owners on Mumsnet, said Ms Roberts. | Bonfire Night got a very mixed reaction from parents and pet owners on Mumsnet, said Ms Roberts. |
| "Some users have never got over public information films showing people being injured by Catherine Wheels and as a result think organised displays are the best option. | "Some users have never got over public information films showing people being injured by Catherine Wheels and as a result think organised displays are the best option. |
| "Others say the day wouldn't be the same without setting fire to a few incendiaries in their own back gardens." | "Others say the day wouldn't be the same without setting fire to a few incendiaries in their own back gardens." |
| Karl Mitchell-Sheed is director of Illusion Fireworks, which won the British Fireworks Championships 2018. | Karl Mitchell-Sheed is director of Illusion Fireworks, which won the British Fireworks Championships 2018. |
| "I put on the biggest pyromusical firework display in the South at Abingdon Airfield and I still love nothing more than getting a selection box and letting them off in the back garden," he said. | "I put on the biggest pyromusical firework display in the South at Abingdon Airfield and I still love nothing more than getting a selection box and letting them off in the back garden," he said. |
| "There is that nostalgia about it - it's personal. But back gardens aren't as big as they used to be and people like going to an organised event for the spectacular show, the music and the atmosphere." | "There is that nostalgia about it - it's personal. But back gardens aren't as big as they used to be and people like going to an organised event for the spectacular show, the music and the atmosphere." |
| Bonfires | Bonfires |
| Ms Roberts said discussion among Mumsnet users concluded "household bonfires are vanishingly rare". | Ms Roberts said discussion among Mumsnet users concluded "household bonfires are vanishingly rare". |
| But Mr Mitchell-Sheed, a member of the Institute of Explosives Engineers, said nine out of 10 of the organised fireworks displays he puts on have roaring bonfires. | But Mr Mitchell-Sheed, a member of the Institute of Explosives Engineers, said nine out of 10 of the organised fireworks displays he puts on have roaring bonfires. |
| "But some have lasers and one recently had a projection of a bonfire," he said. | "But some have lasers and one recently had a projection of a bonfire," he said. |
| "But saying that, more often than not, if they've had lasers the following year the bonfires are back." | "But saying that, more often than not, if they've had lasers the following year the bonfires are back." |
| In Cocking, chat among the villagers during the lead up to the bonfire revealed an incredible piece of trivia, said Mr Malec. | In Cocking, chat among the villagers during the lead up to the bonfire revealed an incredible piece of trivia, said Mr Malec. |
| "Guy Fawkes was briefly employed by Cowdray, a major land owner in the area, as a footman," he said. | "Guy Fawkes was briefly employed by Cowdray, a major land owner in the area, as a footman," he said. |
| "The 2nd Viscount Cowdray was briefly imprisoned for complicity in the Gunpowder Plot after staying away from Parliament on 5 November 1605 following a warning." | "The 2nd Viscount Cowdray was briefly imprisoned for complicity in the Gunpowder Plot after staying away from Parliament on 5 November 1605 following a warning." |
| Traditional tastes | Traditional tastes |
| Bonfire celebrations are not complete without something tasty to tuck into and across the UK the traditional fayre was once Bonfire Toffee. | Bonfire celebrations are not complete without something tasty to tuck into and across the UK the traditional fayre was once Bonfire Toffee. |
| Some regions have their own delicacies, like Parkin especially enjoyed in Yorkshire and Lancashire or grey peas and bacon in the Black Country. | Some regions have their own delicacies, like Parkin especially enjoyed in Yorkshire and Lancashire or grey peas and bacon in the Black Country. |
| "In Yorkshire, Parkin is as much a part of Bonfire Night as sparklers or toffee apples," said Lisa Bennison from Betty's Cafe Tearooms food and drink team. | "In Yorkshire, Parkin is as much a part of Bonfire Night as sparklers or toffee apples," said Lisa Bennison from Betty's Cafe Tearooms food and drink team. |
| "It's a real warm, cosy cake, deliciously sticky and with a fiery ginger kick. Like bonfires themselves, the tradition of eating Parkin here at this time of year is much older than the Gunpowder Plot. | "It's a real warm, cosy cake, deliciously sticky and with a fiery ginger kick. Like bonfires themselves, the tradition of eating Parkin here at this time of year is much older than the Gunpowder Plot. |
| "The origins are unclear - they could be pagan or linked to All Saints' Day - but for centuries it's been enjoyed at the start of November, usually on Parkin Sunday." | "The origins are unclear - they could be pagan or linked to All Saints' Day - but for centuries it's been enjoyed at the start of November, usually on Parkin Sunday." |
| She said the first mention of Parkin by name could be found in court records from 1728, where one Anne Whittaker was accused of stealing oatmeal to make it. | She said the first mention of Parkin by name could be found in court records from 1728, where one Anne Whittaker was accused of stealing oatmeal to make it. |
| Cookery historian, professor Roland Rotherham, said Parkin and Bonfire Toffee were popular many centuries ago because they were easy to make and kept for a long time. | Cookery historian, professor Roland Rotherham, said Parkin and Bonfire Toffee were popular many centuries ago because they were easy to make and kept for a long time. |
| "Grey peas and bacon is classic late Autumn food," he said. "A type of this dish was known during Iron Age times." | "Grey peas and bacon is classic late Autumn food," he said. "A type of this dish was known during Iron Age times." |
| So why have these traditional treats made way for burger vans? | So why have these traditional treats made way for burger vans? |
| Ms Bennison said: "Possibly it is to do with the fact that is made from very traditional ingredients including black treacle - it sounds odd but it tastes delicious." | Ms Bennison said: "Possibly it is to do with the fact that is made from very traditional ingredients including black treacle - it sounds odd but it tastes delicious." |
| Prof Rotherham said: "The changing tastes are down, I'm afraid, to the steady 'Americanisation' of our diet. That and the desire for fast and easy produce." |