Bonfire, Part 1 - Remembrance

Anyone reading this in the UK will (or should!) have a good basic knowledge of English History, and the Gunpowder Plot. In a nutshell, albeit a large one, here's the basics.

Starting in May 1604, a group of Catholics, led by Robert Catesby, and including Thomas Winter, Robert Winter, Christopher Wright, Thomas Percy, John Wright, Ambrose Rokewood, Robert Keyes, Sir Everard Digby, Francis Tresham, and Thomas Bates, were angered by the refusal of the government to give equal rights to Catholics, and developed a plot to kill King James I, abduct the Royal children, and install nine year old Princess Elizabeth as a Catholic head of state. The plot was developed over a period of a year and a half, and culminated with the discovery of Guy Fawkes, an explosives expert, in the vaults of the Houses of Parliament early on November 5th, 1605.

An Act of Parliament was passed to ensure that November 5th would be commemorated each year, as "ye joyful day of deliverance", and although the Act only lasted until 1859, Lewes has not only held steadfastly to the traditions of remembering what has been known as "Bonfire Night" but has added to the celebrations in such a unique way that we have become known the whole world over as the Bonfire capital of the world.

Lewes remembers much more than the failed Gunpowder Plot, however. Between 1555 and 1557, seventeen Protestant Martyrs were burned at the stake outside the Star Inn, where the Town Hall now stands. Their sin was to refuse to renounce their Protestant religion, which they ultimately died for. There is a plaque on the Town Hall, as well as a large monument (The Martyrs Memorial) which stands on Cliffe Hill, and which is illuminated on Bonfire Night each year.

After the failed plot, there was, unsurprisingly, especially in those times, a backlash against the Catholic religion. Only one of the Lewes Bonfire Societies (Cliffe) still burn an effigy of the Pope, though most of the others include a verse in their Bonfire Prayers that goes like this:

"A penny loaf to feed the Pope
a farthing cheese to choke him.
A pint o' beer to rinse it down
and a faggot of sticks to burn him.
Burn him in a tub of tar

burn him like a blazing star.
Burn his body from his head.
then we'll say old Pope is dead!"

Much has been written about the "anti Catholicism" and "bigotry" related to Lewes Bonfire celebrations, but it's important to remember that the Pope who is depicted on the banners, and in effigy form is *not* the current Pope, but Pope Pious V, who was head of the Catholic Church 400 years ago! Indeed, many of the Cliffe's 1000+ members are Catholic themselves!

Finally, Bonfire remembers those who have given their lives for our country, and each year the Bonfire proceedings centre around the War Memorial in the High Street. Each Bonfire Society marches to the War Memorial, where firework set pieces, usually shaped like a poppy, or the words "Lest We Forget" and "Their Finest Hour" are discharged, the "Last Post" is played by a bugler, and a minute's silence is held. I always get quite emotional at this point, and have been known to shed a few tears on many occasions. The atmosphere of being surrounded by thousands of people is pretty intense, though there are always a few people who insist on talking on their phones, laughing, and otherwise spoiling what usually remains a respectful and calm part of the proceedings. Each society also lays a wreath at the War Memorial.

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The banners that hang above Cliffe High Street are hung the evening before the celebrations. The banner raising has become something of an integral part of the Bonfire proceedings, and several hundred people usually pack the street, which is closed to traffic for an hour or so. Cliffe members use a cherry picker to hang each banner from the buildings on either side of the road, and as each one is successfully hung a mass of firecrackers and bangers are let off on the road, to massive cheers from the crowd. I had to work this year so no pics, unfortunately.