. Although losing their association with ancient gods, autumn bonfires became established as a tradition. Usually around Michaelmas (29^th September), at the close of the farming year or at the beginning of winter, bonfires became both a custom and a practicality.

By the time of Queen Elizabeth I bonfires had been appropriated by royalty. November 17th was the ‘anniversary of the accession of the monarch’ and was the official day for the autumn bonfire celebration.

It was therefore a simple and logical step for the incoming king, James I, to declare a slightly different date – ‘November 5^th’ - as the due date for the nations bonfires. It was actually enshrined in an Act of Parliament, that the people (his subjects) should celebrate their deliverance on that day, and the Act remained in force until it was repealed in 1859!

The word 'bonfire' is a corruption of the expression 'bone fire' because bones were at one time( mentioned this fact during the posts I wrote about pagan ways) as common a source of ‘combustible’ material as wood. A chronicler in 1552 notes that "in some parts of Lincolnshire they make fires in the public streets with bones of oxen, sheep etc. heaped together; hence came the expression bon-fires". In Tamburlane, Christopher Marlowe - a contemporary of Shakespeare - wrote: "Ere I die, these fowl idolaters Shall make me bon-fires with their filthy bones".

The burning of effigies also existed as a tradition long before Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot. From the mid-13th century onwards the word "guy" was used to mean a dummy or effigy. "Guy" in turn was derived from the Anglo-Norman word "guyser" describing the stooge in medieval comedies, hence our well known word "geezer". A guiser is a character with varying roles and identities but all associated with the autumn season. It is also another word for a mummer - a performer of traditional plays or guises.

In the burning tar barrel running which still takes place annually in Ottery St Mary and Allendale (I did do a post about this on the old ‘Blogster’ many years ago) the runners were also known as guisers!

‘As it happens’, Guy Fawkes wasn’t put on top of a bonfire or burnt on a stake!!!

The character of Guy Fawkes is inseparable from November 5th which is today known variously as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night or Fireworks Night.

He died a ‘Traitors Death’ along with the co-plotters – hung, drawn and  quartered!

Even though the whole plot was to ‘put’ a catholic on the throne, it didn’t occur (obviously), so, the ‘head of the church of ‘England’, is still the King or Queen (Henry the eighth’s doing) .

Nowadays, there is religious tolerance to Catholics and of course they also enjoy ‘firework displays’, bonfire and pushing effigies of Guys (or even a good natured mate with a mask on) and sitting in a pushchair/wheelbarrow and knocking at doors reciting:

Remember, remember

The 5^th of November,

Gunpowder, treason and plot . . .

Penny for the Guy, please mrs . . . .