An article which points out that the traditional British celebration of Bonfire Night is increasingly being supplanted by a very American version of Hallowe’en.
I concur with much of the article. When I were a lad, Hallowe’en was celebrated, but in a rather low-key way. It usually consisted of making a witch’s hat at school, and later walking up and down the street with a sheet over one’s head to look like a ghost. Trick or treating was unknown. By contrast, the November 5th celebration of Bonfire Night was a really big event. Bonfires were built in back gardens, and effigies of Guy Fawkes were fashioned out of rags to place on top of the fire. In retrospect, it wasn’t much of a commercialised event, apart from the sale of fireworks. Its relative decline is a matter of regret.
Guy Fawkes day died off years ago in Australia due to necessary fire restrictions. If Guy Fawkes day was in autumn I’m sure I’d be down with burning effigies. If there is fire I’m there.
