Let us travel back in time to childhood...
Cast your mind back to Bonfire Night and the excitement that we all had. It all seemed to build up at school in the weeks leading up to the 5th November, where we would chatter amongst ourselves at playtime, comparing what we would be doing that night.
In art class, a few days before, our tutor would ask us to draw and paint bonfires and fireworks, which would create more anticipation of the night to come.
Also, I think bonfire night seems to evoke memories as you smell the wood smoke wafting around, don't you think?
The 5th of November seems to herald the coming of winter and the promise of cosy nights in front of a log fire, sipping on mulled wine or warm ginger tea...
I remember that the fire wood would be collected over the week or so leading up to the 5th of November and then the day before the bonfire, it would be stacked together in the shape of a triangle with a Guy Fawkes effigy plonked on the top, like some sort of macabre fairy on top of a wooden Christmas tree.
Cast your mind back to Bonfire Night and the excitement that we all had. It all seemed to build up at school in the weeks leading up to the 5th November, where we would chatter amongst ourselves at playtime, comparing what we would be doing that night.
In art class, a few days before, our tutor would ask us to draw and paint bonfires and fireworks, which would create more anticipation of the night to come.
Also, I think bonfire night seems to evoke memories as you smell the wood smoke wafting around, don't you think?
The 5th of November seems to herald the coming of winter and the promise of cosy nights in front of a log fire, sipping on mulled wine or warm ginger tea...
I remember that the fire wood would be collected over the week or so leading up to the 5th of November and then the day before the bonfire, it would be stacked together in the shape of a triangle with a Guy Fawkes effigy plonked on the top, like some sort of macabre fairy on top of a wooden Christmas tree.
I seemed to remember Father trying to start the bonfire, which would always be a total farce most years, (usually because the wood was soaked through due to rain having wet it all prior).
But nothing else quite captures bonfire night like being stood by a raging inferno of a hot bonfire and nibbling on baked potatoes that had been cooked in tin foil at the bottom of the bonfire until they were just done to perfection, and boy, didn't the bonfire cook them just so?
The potatoes would be cut in half, and a generous helping of butter would be mashed into both halves, and then carefully eaten with a fork. What a truly scrumptious, but simple snack!
The adults would usually have pork pies and mushy peas, in a dish, with mint sauce. I think the only time pork pies were ever eaten would be on such occasions when one would want something hot and tasty that did not take too much preparing, nor much transportation outdoors into the field.
Usually the children (us) would drink dandelion and burdock fizzy pop, or ginger beer(which was not really beer, but just a ginger flavoured fizzy drink), what a delight!
But nothing else quite captures bonfire night like being stood by a raging inferno of a hot bonfire and nibbling on baked potatoes that had been cooked in tin foil at the bottom of the bonfire until they were just done to perfection, and boy, didn't the bonfire cook them just so?
The potatoes would be cut in half, and a generous helping of butter would be mashed into both halves, and then carefully eaten with a fork. What a truly scrumptious, but simple snack!
The adults would usually have pork pies and mushy peas, in a dish, with mint sauce. I think the only time pork pies were ever eaten would be on such occasions when one would want something hot and tasty that did not take too much preparing, nor much transportation outdoors into the field.
Usually the children (us) would drink dandelion and burdock fizzy pop, or ginger beer(which was not really beer, but just a ginger flavoured fizzy drink), what a delight!
Then our eyes would be drawn to the dark cakes and treats, usually situated on the top of a large tree stump sitting in a Tupperware type plastic box.
There would usually be bonfire parkin( a ginger cake that was a darkish brown colour), gingerbread men and bonfire toffee/cinder toffee, all enjoyed with with your family and friends.
The finale of the evening would undoubtedly be the “firework display”. Is it just me, or did the fireworks back then seemed to be more impressive than the ones these days?
I was never a big fan of fireworks, I always seemed to be very aware of how dangerous they were, even as a child, but never the less they were good fun, hence the odd firework faux-par and near miss!
Happy 5th November!
Lady Rose x
There would usually be bonfire parkin( a ginger cake that was a darkish brown colour), gingerbread men and bonfire toffee/cinder toffee, all enjoyed with with your family and friends.
The finale of the evening would undoubtedly be the “firework display”. Is it just me, or did the fireworks back then seemed to be more impressive than the ones these days?
I was never a big fan of fireworks, I always seemed to be very aware of how dangerous they were, even as a child, but never the less they were good fun, hence the odd firework faux-par and near miss!
Happy 5th November!
Lady Rose x