Bonfire night.

[jetro 5,349]

St. John’s Eve or Bonfire Night

June 23rd, is St. John’s Eve, or as it is known in many parts of Ireland, Bonfire Night. It was traditionally marked by the construction of large fires throughout the countryside. These were lit at sundown and were the focal point of communal festivities. People gathered to dance and sing, while young men proved their bravery by leaping through the flames.

The night was also rich in folklore, much of it concerned with fertility. Prayers and rhymes were recited to ensure a plentiful harvest. Indeed, the fire itself was thought to have magical powers. Burning weeds in its flames would prevent arable fields from becoming overgrown, while scattering its ashes would guarantee the land’s fertility. Similarly parading through the fields with lighted branches from the bonfire would protect the crops from disease and pestilence. It was also deemed particularly lucky to bring the ashes home to light the kitchen hearth.

Although most of these customs are no longer practised, lighting St. John’s bonfires still takes places in many parts of Ireland (especially the west). It is hardly a coincidence that these fires are lit so close to the Summer Solstice and it suggests that the custom may have ancient roots.

It's that time of year again.. looking forward to it. 

Is this custom practiced in the UK 

Atb j 

[WILF 51,330]

Not in the UK that I know of mate.

[walshie 2,804]

Just asked Mrs Bogtrotter and she hasn't heard of it. Maybe it's only certain parts of Ireland?

[Jonjon79 13,358]

I've never known of it in England  - just the whole 5th November thing.

 

Sounds like a nice old tradition though

 ......... maybe it comes from paganism. 

[FLATTOP 5,290]

Sounds like a nice thing Jetro all these old traditions should be respected and not forgotten, I attend a little gathering locally wassailing it’s an old orchard near me that’s over a 100 years old which was started by soldiers returning from WW1 and is now managed by a mental health trust they use no machines just hand tools and it helps people with depression PTSD ect there a good old bunch.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wassailing

 

 

 

[mushroom 14,247]

Sounds very pagan to me that does Jetro. Fertility rituals tend to be based on much earlier traditions which then get hijacked in the name of Christianity etc. Spain is full of weird and wonderful traditions that started out pagan.

Today is San Juan here too (st John's) which normally means seriously batshit crazy shit goes down. I bought some bangers a couple of days ago. 100 in a box, tiny little things, not much bigger than a match but loud as fuuck and bought with the full intention to be launched at people but due to the coronavirus they've actually reclosed all the beaches, to prevent people from taking the piss and gathering in their thousands. So looks like the festivities are cancelled this year

Edited June 23, 2020 by mushroom

[jetro 5,349]

52 minutes ago, Jonjon79 said:

I've never known of it in England  - just the whole 5th November thing.

 

Sounds like a nice old tradition though

 ......... maybe it comes from paganism. 

It is a pagan custom jonjon, still practiced in some parts.

Atb j 

[jetro 5,349]

2 minutes ago, mushroom said:

Sounds very pagan to me that does Jetro. Fertility rituals tend to be based on much earlier traditions which then get hijacked in the name of Christianity etc. Spain is full of weird and wonderful traditions that started put pagan.

Today is San Juan here too (st John's) which normally means seriously batshit crazy shit goes down. I bought some bangers a couple of days ago. 100 in a box, tiny little things, not much bigger than a match but loud as fuuck and bought with the full intention to be launched at people but due to the coronavirus they've actually reclosed all the beaches, to prevent people from taking the piss and gathering in their thousands. So looks like the festivities are cancelled this year

It is a pagan custom mush. A lot of people here will be celebrating tonight,  drink food music, then tomorrow the ashes from the fires will be spread over crops and fields. 

Enjoy your night .

We could go into great depth on how the Christians stole and changed the old ways and belives to suit their own needs 

Atb j 

[jetro 5,349]

37 minutes ago, FLATTOP said:

Sounds like a nice thing Jetro all these old traditions should be respected and not forgotten, I attend a little gathering locally wassailing it’s an old orchard near me that’s over a 100 years old which was started by soldiers returning from WW1 and is now managed by a mental health trust they use no machines just hand tools and it helps people with depression PTSD ect there a good old bunch.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wassailing

 

 

 

These are the customs and culture that needs to be kept alive and handed down to our kids.

Saw wassailing taking place on the tv. Looks like a great day and night.

Atb j 

[jetro 5,349]

1 hour ago, walshie said:

Just asked Mrs Bogtrotter and she hasn't heard of it. Maybe it's only certain parts of Ireland?

I think it only take place in a few places no walshie. 

I know years ago a fella came up from cork on this night and couldn't understand it, said he never seen it before.

Atb j 

[mushroom 14,247]

37 minutes ago, jetro said:

It is a pagan custom mush. A lot of people here will be celebrating tonight,  drink food music, then tomorrow the ashes from the fires will be spread over crops and fields. 

Enjoy your night .

We could go into great depth on how the Christians stole and changed the old ways and belives to suit their own needs 

Atb j 

Like I said mate the connection with fire, fireworks, ashes etc is exactly the same here

[greg64 3,068]

52 minutes ago, jetro said:

It is a pagan custom jonjon, still practiced in some parts.

Atb j 

 it's a roman catholic custom celebrating john the babtists birthday 

 

[jetro 5,349]

25 minutes ago, greg64 said:

 it's a roman catholic custom celebrating john the babtists birthday 

 

It was taken place long before the Christians came. It's a celtic feritily custom. The church tied their belive in with it. 

Atb j 

[mushroom 14,247]

1 hour ago, greg64 said:

 it's a roman catholic custom celebrating john the babtists birthday 

 

Why is there fire involved? Can't think of a catholic tradition using fire, outside of burning candles, incense and heretics of course.

Here in Barcelona they have something called correfoc, which can only be described as the craziest spectacle you'll ever see. Involves drums, fire and fireworks going off 2 foot above your head and the idea is to ward off evil spirits. It says it's a Christian tradition but has been definitely adapted from an earlier, more pagan ritual.

Edited June 23, 2020 by mushroom

[jetro 5,349]

31 minutes ago, mushroom said:

Why is there fire involved? Can't think of a catholic tradition using fire, outside of burning candles, incense and heretics of course.

Here in Barcelona they have something called correfoc, which can only be described as the craziest spectacle you'll ever see. Involves drums, fire and fireworks going off 2 foot above your head and the idea is to ward off evil spirits. It says it's a Christian tradition but has been definitely adapted from an earlier, more pagan ritual.

Christians took a lot of pagan customs  and used them, Christmas, Easter, st bridigets day (irish) and used them for their own use, they tried to rewrite the celtic belive system against  the people. They had nothing of their own 

And for the greater part it worked for them, but that's slowly changing. People are beginning to look at the older way again 

Atb j