So we are approaching the end of bonfire season here in Sussex. Now you may be thinking that a few days either side of November 5 cannot be called a season. Towns and villages up and down the UK hold a bonfire night event in November, but in Sussex they do things differently.
Many of the towns or villages in Sussex have Bonfire Societies and each of these societies invite the others to their events between September and November. A bonfire event typically included a torchlit procession, drumming, marching bands, colourful costumes including pirates, buccaneers, Saxons, Vikings, Mayans, Zulus, Native Americans, medieval and soldiers from all ages. They include much dropping of “rookies” (small bangers), processing of effigies, big bonfires and firework displays. The effigies are not so much burnt as blown to smithereens at the end of the evening. The events are often a little bit anarchic, a bit wild , often loud and absolutely wonderful. As a member of the Pentacle Drummers I have been taking part in these bonfire events for many years and I love them.
I am not native to Sussex, I am originally from South London. Until I moved to Sussex 18 years ago I had no idea about this Sussex bonfire tradition. But I will never forget the first time I took part in a bonfire procession. I was near the back and looked up as the procession wound its way along a country lane and up a gentle hill. Ahead of me was a river of fire! I was hooked from that moment on. The Bonfire celebrations in Sussex may not Pagan in origin, but there is something inherently pagan in feel about them. The fire, the atmosphere, the drums…
The biggest and best known is Lewes Bonfire celebrations where no less than six bonfire societies process through the streets of Lewes before each moving to their own firesites for six separate firework displays.
Lewes bonfire has not been without its controversy or critics over the years. The effigies that are carried are kept a closely guarded secret. But a few years ago there was outrage in the press because someone leaked a picture of an effigy of Alex Salmond. How could you burn effigies of living people without it being offensive said the press. There was even talk of prosecution. The effigy was not blown up on the 5th as a result but quietly (loudly actually!) blown up the following week. I also remember many years ago when Battle bonfire had an effigy of Barack Obama and Sara Palin in response to all the news we were hearing about the US election at the time.
The truth is the effigies often represent living people who have been in the news over the past year for various reasons. These figures are often lampooned in political cartoons in the press and the effigies (or more accurately – tableaus) are 3D versions of those cartoons. Tableau’s have included David Cameron, Putin, Jeremy Clarkson, Gadhafi, Sadam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden, Theresa May, Bush and Blair and of course Donald Trump.
This year there was also much consternation about the costumes from one society. this society have always had members dressed as Zulus. This year however there were allegations of racism due to the black face paint. Allegations of racism were denied by the society but they agreed to tone down the make up this year. But in typical Lewes style, one of their effigies included a giant tin of “Zulux Black Paint”, which was of course blown up during the evening!
The representation of the pope, and the carrying of burning crosses have also drawn consternation in the past. Bonfires are not anti-catholic and in truth this commemorates an events that pre date the gunpowder plot. Between 1555 and 1557 some 17 Protestants from Sussex were put to death during the reign of Mary 1st. The 17 burning crosses are in remembrance of those 17. One society carries the image of Pope Paul V who was pope at the time of the gun powder plot. But there is no animosity between Catholics and Protestants or any other religions in Lewes. This is no sectarian celebration despite how it may be seen by outsiders. And I guess the Bonfire Prayer can add to that opinion.. But when it is shouted out and followed up by a barrage of firecrackers and bangers, none of that seems to matter 🙂
Bonfire Prayer
Remember, remember the Fifth of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot,
I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes ’twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parliament,
Three score barrels of powder below
Poor old England to overthrow.
By God’s providence he was catch’d
With a dark lantern and burning match,
Holler boys, holler boys, ring bells ring
Holler boys, holler boys, God Save the King!
A penny loaf to feed the Pope
A farthing o’cheese to choke him,
A pint of beer to rinse it down
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.
What shall we do with him?
Burn him!
There is a saying in Sussex “ We wont be druv” – we wont be driven, meaning we wont be told what to do. I very much get the feeling that the Lewes societies would carry on with bonfire even if no one came to watch. In fact some of the members say they would prefer it if no one came and they could get on with their night their way!
I would hate it if some people got their way and anarchic customs such as Sussex Bonfire became over sanitised. I do understand that if something ids proven to be ofensive, then we should look to change that thing. But I also think more and more people are becoming offended on BEHALF of others , who may not have been offended in the first place!
So I raise a tankard to to the Bonfire societies of Lewes, Hastings, Battle, Newick, Seaford Eastbourne, Hailsham, Burgess Hill, Uckfield, Mayfield Rotherfield, Buxted and East Hoathly . Long may you continue to celebrate ! ( there are more bonfire societies that these in Sussex, but these are the ones that I attend regularly) At the bottom of this page there is a you tube link to a Section of the Lewes Bonfire procession with Southover Bonfire Society, that gives a small flavour of the evening.
A Druids Journey 