Category — Scruncheons

Remember, remember the fifth of November

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder treason and plot.
We see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!

This is the first verse of an English nursery rhyme about Guy Fawkes and the 1605 Gunpowder Plot. The (foiled) plot is the basis for the celebration of Bonfire Night. For more information on Guy Fawkes and bonfire night, have a look at www.gunpowder-plot.org, which is very good, or www.bonfirenight.net.

Gravel Pits and Blasty Boughs

On the Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage website the contributors maintain that most Newfoundlanders who observe bonfire night probably wouldn’t be able to say who Guy Fawkes was. That’s probably true. When we were growing up it was always just “bonfire night”. I don’t think I learned about Guy Fawkes until I was maybe eleven or twelve and read about him in a children’s encyclopedia about holidays.

That said, I remember bonfire night being something that we actually used to get excited about. I still have vivid memories of heading out to an old gravel pit near our town in clear, cold weather and throwing blasty boughs on a really big fire. I haven’t had a November 5 bonfire in years, in part because bonfire night doesn’t seem to be as big on the west coast of Newfoundland as it was in central, and maybe in part because bonfire night seems to be fading fast as a custom.

Some communities still organize an event with a great big fire and fireworks. My sister spent the last few years living in Harbour Breton and I know that they do that there. If you’re interested in going to a bonfire, it shouldn’t be hard to find one if there’s one to be at.

Although it’s been awhile since we’ve done it, every November this time I get a little excited about bonfire – and I’m always a little disappointed on November 6 after not having one.

Maybe I’ll start doing it again with my own family, if for no other reason than to give my daughter the chance to remember November too.