◆BONFIRE◆
Webster’s Dictionary defines a bonfire as
“a large fire built in the open air”,
a word derived from the Middle English bone fire a fire of bones. More to our purpose, other sources define a bonfire as “a festive fire” or a “contribution fire” that is, a fire to which everyone in the neighborhood contributes a certain portion of material.
What is Bonfire Night, why do we celebrate it ?
Bonfire Night is a name given to various annual celebrations characterised by bonfires and fireworks. The event celebrates different traditions on different dates, depending on the country. Some of the most popular instances include Guy Fawkes Night (5 November) in Great Britain, which is also celebrated in some Commonwealth countries,
Northern Ireland's Eleventh Night (11 July),
5 November in Newfoundland and Labrador.
In various parts of Ireland, Bonfire Nights are held on St John's Eve (23 June),
Bealtaine eve (30 April)
Halloween (31 October)
In Scandinavia it is known as Walpurgis Night (30 April)
In Denmark also sankthansaften (23 June)
St John's Eve is also a very important celebration in Spain and Northern Portugal. Several other cultures also include night-time celebrations involving bonfires or fireworks.
Remember, remember, the fifth of November, The Gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason why the Gunpowder treason should ever be forgotten!
That is the start of the English folk verse which has been distributed in various forms since the foiled attempt to blow up the houses of parliament in the 17th century.
A grand plan, widely known as the Gunpowder Plot saw more than a dozen men work together in an attempt to blow up the House of Lords and kill King James I in hopes of securing greater religious freedom.
History books have revealed that although the plan was spearheaded by devout Catholic Robert Catesby, Guy Fawkes was the first arrested and the name most commonly linked with the November celebration.
Why is Bonfire Night celebrated?
The tradition dates back to 1605 when members of the public lit massive bonfires to celebrate authorities preventing the treasonous plot from being successful.
Those loyal to King James celebrated the fact he had survived an attack that would most definitely have killed him if it had gone ahead.
The celebration was made official months later when an annual holiday was enforced titled the 'Observance of 5th November Act.'
Due to the religious motives behind the plot - the celebration initially had strong undertones of anti-Catholic gatherings.
However in the modern-day Bonfire Night has become an extravagant affair across the country with bonfires, fireworks and in some areas funfairs.
While this year Bonfire Night celebrations will be a little different due to the coronavirus pandemic, the history will always be the same.
Different Myths of Bonfire
In many cultures, people practice rituals related to fire. These rituals are often based on myths and legends about fire or fire gods. In ancient Rome, a sacred flame associated with the goddess Vesta represented national well-being. Women called the Vestal Virgins had the holy duty of keeping that flame alive.
◆ The Aztecs of ancient Mexico believed that the fire god Huehueteotl kept earth and heaven in place. At the end of each cycle of 52 years, they extinguished all fires, and Huehueteotl's priests lit a new flame for the people to use. In northern Europe, which has long, dark, cold winters, fire was especially honored. Pagan fire festivals such as lighting bonfires on May 1 have continued into modern times in European communities.
◆ Agni, the god of fire in Hindu mythology, represents the essential energy of life in the universe. He consumes things, but only so that other things can live. Fiery horses pull Agni's chariot, and he carries a flaming spear. Agni created the sun and the stars, and his powers are great. He can make worshipers immortal and purify the souls of the dead from sin. One ancient myth about Agni says that he consumed so many offerings from his worshipers that he was tired. To regain his strength, he had to burn an entire forest with all its inhabitants.
◆ Chinese mythology includes stories of Hui Lu, a magician and fire god who kept 100 firebirds in a gourd. By setting them loose, he could start a fire across the whole country. There was also a hierarchy of gods in charge of fire. At its head was Lo Hsüan, whose cloak, hair, and beard were red. Flames spurted from his horse's nostrils. He was not unconquerable, however. Once when he attacked a city with swords of fire, a princess appeared in the sky and quenched his flames with her cloak of mist and dew.
◆ Prometheus of Greek mythology, one of the most famous fire bringers, stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans. Similar figures appear in the tales of other cultures.
◆ Native Americans believe that long ago some evil being hid fire so that people could not benefit from it. A hero had to recover it and make it available to human beings. In many versions of the story Coyote steals fire for people, but sometimes a wolf, woodpecker, or other animal does so. According to the Navajo, Coyote tricked two monsters that guarded the flames on Fire Mountain. Then he lit a bundle of sticks tied to his tail and ran down the mountain to deliver the fire to his people.
◆ African traditions also say that animals gave fire to humans. The San of South Africa believe that Ostrich guarded fire under his wing until a praying mantis stole it. Mantis tricked Ostrich into spreading his wings and made off with the fire. The fire destroyed Mantis, but from the ashes came two new Mantises.
◆ Indians of the Amazon River basin in Brazil say that a jaguar rescued a boy and took him to its cave. There the boy watched the jaguar cooking food over a fire. The boy stole a hot coal from the fire and took it to his people, who then learned to cook.
◆ Legends in the Caroline Islands of the Pacific link fire to Olofat, a mythical trickster hero who was the son of the sky god and a mortal woman. As a youth, Olofat forced his way into heaven to see his father. Later Olofat gave fire to human beings by allowing a bird to fly down to earth with fire in its beak.
◆ In Europe and America, individuals accused of being witches were once burned at the stake. Many cultures have held the belief that fire destroys sorcery, or black magic. The Assyrians of ancient Mesopotamia called upon fire to undo the effects of evil witchcraft aimed at them. They used these words:
Boil, boil, burn, burn!... As this goat's skin is torn asunder and cast into the fire, and as the blaze devours it... may the curse, the spell, the pain, the torment, the sickness, the sin, the misdeed, the crime, the suffering, that oppress my body, be torn asunder like this goat's skin! May the blaze consume them today.
◆ A myth from Assam, in northern India, says that after losing a battle with Water, Fire hid in a bamboo stalk. The Grasshopper saw it and told Monkey, who figured out how to use Fire. But a man saw Monkey and decided that he should have Fire, so he stole it from Monkey Like many stories, this myth portrays ownership of fire as a human quality. Even partial control over such a powerful force of nature is one of the things that gives human society its identity.
◆Bonfire in India◆
In India bonfires are called 'Holika Dahan'. Holika Dahan is a very popular festival celebrated with the lighting of a huge bonfire on the eve of Holi. Also known as ‘Chhoti Holi’ or the ‘Small Holi’, this tradition is observed with fervour all across India and is symbolic of triumph of good over evil. The heat from the fire also depicts the passing of winter and the hot summer days coming ahead.
There are a few key points in favor of the "bone fire" etymology. First, the creation posited by early lexicographers would be a somewhat unusual hybrid: exactly why a French word would be joined with an English one (the word fire is purely Anglo-Saxon) is hard to rationalize. Second, knowing that the word goes back to the 15th century, we might expect it to have evolved to boonfire, since boon (as in "boon companion") is the English form that developed from the French bon. Third, the spelling in the world's earliest attestation is in the form balefyre, and bane is a spelling of bone which long continued common in Scotland.
The next day, the festival of colour, Holi, takes place but participants of the hawana (the fire ritual) come back to the now burned out bonfire to smear vibhuti (sacred ashes) on their foreheads as a symbolic gesture to keep away evil.
*Stories behind Holika Dahan*
The lighting of the bonfire on the evening of Holika Dahan is symbolic of the triumph of good over evil. There are many stories associated with the ritual of Holika Dahan and different people have a different perception of the tradition. Let us have a look at some common theories behind Holika Dahan:
●Prahalad’s Victory Over Holika :
The most popular story behind Holika Dahan comes from Narad Purana. According to this, Prahalad son of King Hiranyakashyap was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. The king wanted everybody in his kingdom should worship him. Unable to make his son worship him, Hiranyakashyap instructed his sister, Holika to sit in the burning fire with Prahlad in lap. Holika was blessed that no fire can burn her However, the fire burnt Holika while Prahald came out unscathed. Thus holika dahan is celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil.
●Bonfire with Mantras for Destruction of Demons :
According to ancient Vedas and Puranas, Holikotsav is an ancient festival where the sacred fire of holi was burnt followed by chanting of specific mantras. The fire and the mantras were intended for the destruction of the demonic fire. Therefore, the holi bonfire is believed to burn all the bad omens and bring good luck.
●Holka the Parched Grain :
Till today, there is a tradition of offering wheat and oat in the holi bonfire. Some people believe that Holika Dahan was named after parched grains called ‘Hola’ or ‘Holka’ in Sanskrit. The grains were offered to fire as a good omen before the cutting of crops begin. This ritual is called Vaishwadev.
●Ogress Dhundhi :
According to a theory mentioned in Bhavishya Purana, the festival of Holi is related back to the Kingdom of Raghu. Back then there lived an ogress named Dhundhi who used to trouble children. She was finally chased away by the people of the Kingdom of the day of holi. This is why Holi is believed to be a day when children can play pranks on others. As the saying comes
‘Bura naa Maano Holi Hai’
Now I want to tell you about other countries whose celebration is the same like Indian bonfire.
◆Bonfire Night Newfoundland, Canada:-
When English and Irish people, in search of a better life, crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Canada, they took their traditions with them. The English took Guy Fawkes Night, the Irish took Samhain and over time the traditions merged into Mischief Week.
With a belief that certain types of naughty behaviour (soaping windows, taking pins from gate hinges or stealing old tires for bonfires) is permitted at this time, many of Newfoundland & Labrador's close-knit communities hold bonfires and celebrations.
◆Guy Fawkes Night (Bonfire Night) - England:-
The bonfire tradition continues to this day, and usually there's an effigy of Guy Fawkes placed at the centre of it. One of the biggest celebrations is in the town of Lewes in Sussex where, in recent years, effigies of various current figures, including those from the UK banking world, have been burned.
◆Daizenji Tamataregu Shrine's "Oniyo" Fukuoka, Japan:-
Fukuoka, capital of Fukuoka Prefecture on Kyushu Island, is one of Japan's largest cities and hosts one of its oldest fire festivals. Daizenji Tamataregu Shrine's "Oniyo" (Fire Festival) is a ceremony to drive away evil spirits that has been practiced for 1,600 years. It's held in early January each year. A "devil fire" that has been guarded at the temple is transferred - at around 9 p.m. on the seventh day (January 7) - to six massive torches measuring one meter in diameter and 15 meters long.
The torches are transported around the grounds of the shrine by a group of men in loincloths. It sounds like a potential health-and-safety issue, but it's considered to be good luck if embers or ash from the torches fall on them.
◆Jeongwol Daeboreum Deulbul Festival - Jeju, S. Korea:-
In early February, the Jeongwol Daeboreum Deulbul Festival takes place on the island of Jeju off the coast of South Korea. It's a fairly new festival, younger than 20 years old, but its origins go back to the time when families kept cows.
To keep the grass grazeable, farmers set fire to the fields in the mountains to destroy old grass and kill harmful insects. Today, a hilltop is set alight to pray for health and a good harvest in the coming year. There's a torchlight march, straw-rope making competition and deumdol (rock) lifting.
◆Sadeh festival Iran:-
The "Sadeh" celebration is the largest celebration of fire and one of the oldest rituals known in ancient Persia. It is a festivity to honor fire and to defeat the forces of darkness, frost and cold. Until the Arab invasion of Iran in the seventh century, most Iranians in the powerful Persian Empire were Zoroastrians, who celebrated the feast at the start of the 30th January. The festival is held as a gathering of a city’s dwellers where a big fire is set. The observers help each other gather firewood, making the festival a celebration for cooperation and empathy between people.
Here are some glimpse of celebration Holi in corona pandemic:
Coronavirus demon 'Coronasur' in Mumbai:-
On the auspicious occasion of Holika Dahan, people in Mumbai have come up with new ideas of burning effigies of coronavirus and crime against women.
(In pic: Men sprinkle colour powder around a Holika Dahan effigy of the Coronavirus demon - 'Coronasur' erected in Mumbai)
Holika Dahan is the most significant ritual which is conducted a day prior to Holi and this time people in Worli area have put up an effigy based on the theme of coronavirus with 'Coronasur' written on it.
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