Remember Remember (‘Life’s a Journey’ Nostalgia Link-Up, Week 42)

This post is part of a weekly series of ‘link-up’ Posts which reflect on life’s journey, old memories and family stories (see below for more info).

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This is the season which is home to one of the most vivid memories I have from my childhood. I suspect its memory has endured because it was such a ritual in our young lives. Of what do I speak? Bonfire Night, of course.

Over the years and generations, this is an annual event which appears to have evolved. In my parents’ time, and in my own early recollections, great time and effort was expended in creating and readying an impressive ‘Guy’ for, well, destroying on the fire later. To the non-British reader, this is indeed just as futile as it sounds. We would make a life sized effigy of Mr Fawkes (usually crafted from some poor mother’s old tights whose crotch was unceremoniously stuffed with old newspaper), dress ‘him’ in some old clothes destined for the Jumble Sale (another much-lamented lost British art form) and sit him in a cranky old wheelbarrow. We would then proceed to push the flaccid gentleman around the street, knocking doors and

begging *clears throat in belated recognition of why parents didn’t approve of this passtime* for ‘a penny for the Guy’. Ree Diculous.

It is not the fireworks which I recall with most fondness (probably because they were a bit shit), nor is it the fire itself. My memories of this seminal piece of my childhood are as follows:-

1. The jacket potatoes, wrapped in tin foil and reliably lost somewhere in the bowels of the fire. Later retrieved from the embers, penetrated by charcoal and mouth blisteringly hot.

2. Writing my name across the inky black with a Sparkler

3. The smell of the smoke on my clothes the next day

I hope to Fawkes that my kids get the rush which I just felt when they sit and remember their own 5th of Novembers in 30 years’ time.

Link up your own seasonal memories! What are the bonfire night rituals you shared with your own families all those years ago? How have they changed now that you are a parent? Use your blog to create your own post, or simply share your memories in the comments. We’re here for a while, so no rush!!

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