Bonfire facts for kids
A bonfire is a large, controlled outdoor fire. People usually make bonfires from wood or straw. The word "bonfire" might come from "bone fire." Long ago, people like the Celts burned animal bones in big fires. They did this during midsummer festivals to try and keep away bad spirits.
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Bonfires in Great Britain
In Great Britain, bonfires are a big part of Guy Fawkes Night. This night is also called fireworks night or Bonfire Night. People celebrate it every year on November 5th. They remember when a plan to blow up the Parliament, called the Gunpowder Plot, was discovered in 1605.
In Northern Ireland, bonfires are used for celebrations too. They mark the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.
Bonfires in Japan
In Japan, people light large fires called bon-bi. These fires are meant to welcome the ancestors' spirits back home. Even though the words "bonfire" and "bon-bi" sound similar, they don't come from the same origin. However, both show how important large fires are in different cultures.
Bonfires for Special Events
People have used bonfires for special events and rituals for a long time. They believed the fire could make things pure or sacred. For example, in ancient times, cattle were very important. People would lead their cattle through the smoke of a bonfire. This was thought to bring good things to the animals.
Couples getting married on May Day would sometimes jump through the flames. This was a way to show their promises to each other. People also took hot coals from a bonfire back to their homes. They used these coals to light their own fires. This practice was believed to bring good luck.
Bonfires in Modern Beliefs
Bonfires are also important in some modern spiritual beliefs. For example, in Wicca and Neopaganism, bonfires are a key part of the Beltaine celebration. This holiday is also known as May Day.
A traditional Wiccan bonfire, sometimes called a balefire, uses nine different types of wood. These often include rowan, dogwood, elder, poplar, oak, juniper, holly, cedar, and apple. Sometimes, pine is used instead of holly or elder. In some places, people avoid cutting certain trees because of old beliefs or traditions.
Related pages
Images for kids
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A very large bonfire burning brightly.
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People gathered around a bonfire at night.
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A bonfire with tall flames reaching into the sky.
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A bonfire burning in a field.
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On the beaches of Duindorp (pictured) and Scheveningen, both part of The Hague, teams annually compete to build the world's largest bonfire
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Distribution of Funkenfeuer in Alemannic Europe, France and Northern Italy. Red shows traditions of Funkensonntag (the Sunday following Ash Wednesday), blue shows traditions of 1 March.
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Lag BaOmer kumzits in Israel, 1972. Dan Hadani collection, National Library of Israel
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Preparations for Holika Dahan Kathmandu, Nepal
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Midsummer fire (sobótka) at San (river), (Poland).
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An effigy of Guy Fawkes, burnt on a Guy Fawkes Night bonfire
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Wicker man effigy on fire at the Archaeolink outdoor museum, Oyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
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A bonfire burns during a night event in the US
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See also
In Spanish: Hoguera para niños
