"A Smashing Bonfire"

We finally made it to a traditional Guy Fawkes Day torch parade and bonfire. Here in the UK, the 5th of November is a celebration of the thwarting of a plot by bad-dude Guy Fawkes to blow up the English Parliament building (with King James inside) in 1605. To celebrate, an effigy of Guy Fawkes (called, appropriately, "The Guy") is marched through town in a parade and then burned atop an enormous bonfire, followed by a fireworks display. We went to the nearby village of Cranleigh (best known as the home of Ringo Starr and Eric Clapton!) for their celebration. We carried torches in the mile-long parade to the bonfire: Once there, the thousands of participants surrounded the bonfire and the local vicar climbed to the top and read aloud the poem known to all British schoolchildren:
Remember, remember the fifth of November,
The gunpowder treason and plot,
I know of no reason
Why the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
The parade marshall then placed "The Guy" atop the huge bonfire. In Cranleigh, there was a Guy-making competition -- the winning Guy was placed atop the bonfire and the others were placed all along the steps to the top. (If you look closely at the picture of the two of us holding torches at the top, you can see the unlit bonfire with the "Guys" on it's steps behind us.) At last, everyone's torches were thrown onto the bonfire to set it ablaze. The fire was enormous! The man standing next to us declared it "a smashing bonfire". We agreed! After about 15 minutes, the fireworks display began. It was so much fun to watch fireworks while standing alongside a roaring bonfire!The Cranleigh bonfire website linked to this video (by an American film company) depicting last year's parade and bonfire. I think it is a good summary of the evening. Enjoy!