Things We Used to Do on Bonfire Night That Wouldn’t Happen Today

Remember, remember the fifth of November.

For generations, Bonfire Night was one of the biggest events in the British autumn calendar. It was an excuse to wrap up warm, gather around a bonfire, eat something covered in tomato sauce and watch the sky light up with fireworks.

For those who grew up in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, it was often a very different experience from the organised displays and carefully managed events we see today.

There were homemade Guys, enormous bonfires, boxes of fireworks bought from the local shop and the occasional moment when an adult would shout something along the lines of, “Stand back, this one’s a big one!”

Looking back, some of the things we did seem rather extraordinary. Health and safety was perhaps not quite as prominent as it is today, and the idea of a risk assessment before lighting a fire in someone’s back garden would probably have been met with a puzzled expression.

Here are some of the Bonfire Night traditions that many of us remember, but which would raise a few eyebrows today.

1. Building enormous bonfires in the back garden

A Bonfire Night celebration wasn’t complete without a bonfire, and the bigger the better.

For weeks beforehand, families would collect old bits of wood, broken furniture, cardboard boxes and anything else that could be persuaded to burn.

The garden would gradually become a storage area for combustible materials, often with a pile of wood that looked as though it had been assembled by a small demolition company.

Come the big night, everything would be piled together and set alight.

There was rarely much consideration given to how close the fire was to the shed, the fence or the neighbour’s washing line. Someone would find a box of matches, the adults would gather around and eventually the whole thing would go up in flames.

Today, bonfires are subject to much greater scrutiny, with good reason. The thought of building a towering fire next to the garden fence is enough to make most people reach for the telephone to check local safety advice.

2. Letting children loose with sparklers

Sparklers were practically compulsory.

Every child wanted one, and every parent seemed to have a box tucked away somewhere. You would be handed a sparkler, told not to touch the hot end and encouraged to write your name in the air.

The excitement was enormous. You could draw circles, make shapes and watch the sparks fly as the metal wire slowly burned away.

Of course, the instructions were usually quite simple: don’t touch it, don’t wave it near anyone and whatever you do, don’t put it down until it has stopped glowing.

Today, sparklers are still enjoyed, but the emphasis on supervision, protective equipment and safe disposal is much stronger.

And quite rightly. That glowing metal stick was considerably hotter than it looked.

3. Making a Guy out of old clothes

Before the fireworks came the annual Guy-making competition.

Children would stuff old trousers, shirts and jumpers with newspaper or straw, find something to use as a head and create a rather questionable human figure.

The finished Guy would usually be placed in a chair or propped against a wall, looking vaguely like someone who had lost an argument with a washing machine.

Then came the traditional request: “Penny for the Guy!”

Children would take their creation out into the street, hoping that passers-by would donate a few coins towards their fireworks.

The money might buy a few sparklers, a packet of bangers or something from the local sweet shop.

It was a familiar part of the run-up to Bonfire Night, although the sight of children sitting beside a homemade figure asking strangers for money is much less common today.

4. Buying fireworks from the local shop

There was a time when buying fireworks felt almost as ordinary as buying a packet of biscuits.

Local shops would sell boxes of fireworks in the run-up to November 5th, and families would choose what they fancied for their garden display.

There were rockets, Catherine wheels, Roman candles, fountains and fireworks with names that promised considerably more excitement than their eventual performance delivered.

Some would produce a spectacular display. Others would make a noise, release a puff of smoke and leave everyone wondering whether that was it.

The important thing was having a selection.

Fireworks are now subject to much stricter retail and safety regulations, with age restrictions and guidance on how and when they can be used.

The days of casually picking up fireworks alongside your weekly shopping have become a much more carefully controlled affair.

5. Lighting fireworks in the street

For some families, Bonfire Night wasn’t confined to the back garden.

People would gather outside, neighbours would bring out their own fireworks and children would watch from the pavement.

There was often a sense that the whole street was involved. You could hear bangs and whistles coming from several directions, and the sky would be illuminated by displays happening all around the neighbourhood.

It wasn’t always particularly organised, and the idea of having multiple households setting off fireworks in close proximity would certainly make modern safety-conscious residents nervous.

Today, many people prefer organised displays, where the fireworks are handled by trained professionals and spectators can watch from a designated area.

6. Standing far too close to the action

One of the things that stands out when looking back is how close people sometimes stood to the fireworks.

There would be a general instruction to keep back, but the precise meaning of “keep back” could vary considerably depending on which adult was in charge.

A rocket would be placed in a bottle, someone would light the fuse and everyone would watch to see whether it went up, sideways or did something completely unexpected.

Catherine wheels were another favourite. They would be nailed to a fence or piece of wood, lit and watched as they spun around, throwing sparks in every direction.

The modern approach is much more cautious, with recommended safety distances, proper launch equipment and clear instructions.

Looking back, it’s remarkable how much confidence we placed in a glass bottle and someone’s ability to judge the direction of a rocket.

7. Eating baked potatoes straight from the fire

One of the great pleasures of Bonfire Night was the food.

Baked potatoes wrapped in foil would be buried in the ashes or placed around the edge of the fire. When they were ready, they would be retrieved, opened up and covered in butter.

There was something particularly satisfying about eating a piping-hot potato while standing outside in the cold.

Toffee apples were another essential. They looked wonderful, although getting through the hard sugary coating without losing a filling was always a challenge.

Then there were sausages, hot dogs, treacle toffee and mugs of something warm.

Modern organised displays still offer plenty of traditional Bonfire Night food, but the days of casually cooking your dinner in the ashes of a huge garden bonfire are perhaps best left as a memory.

8. Collecting wood from wherever you could find it

The build-up to Bonfire Night often involved a surprisingly enthusiastic search for fuel.

Old pallets, broken chairs, unwanted wooden doors and bits of timber that had been sitting behind the shed for years could suddenly become valuable resources.

Children might be sent out to find wood, sometimes with the vague instruction to see what they could get hold of.

Today, collecting discarded wood without knowing its history or whether it has been treated would be strongly discouraged. Burning painted, treated or contaminated materials can release harmful substances.

It’s probably just as well that the modern approach is to think a little more carefully about what goes on a bonfire.

9. Having a competition over whose fireworks were best

There was always a little friendly rivalry between neighbours.

One family would have a box of fireworks, another would have something bigger, and somebody would inevitably claim that their display was going to be the best in the street.

There was a certain prestige attached to having a particularly impressive rocket or a Catherine wheel that actually worked.

The disappointment of a dud firework was shared by everyone, especially if it had been the most expensive item in the box.

Today, the competition has moved on. Families might compare organised displays, photographs and videos rather than seeing who can produce the biggest bang in their back garden.

10. Staying outside until the last firework had gone off

Bonfire Night could go on for hours.

Children would be wrapped in coats, hats, scarves and gloves, with parents insisting that they were perfectly warm despite the fact that everyone could see their breath.

There would be the occasional trip indoors to warm up, followed by another dash outside because someone had found one final firework.

The night would eventually end when the fireworks ran out, the fire died down or an adult decided that enough was enough.

Then came the job of getting everyone inside, removing smoky coats and trying to get the smell of bonfire smoke out of your hair.

It was all part of the experience.

Bonfire Night has changed, but the memories remain

There is no doubt that Bonfire Night has changed considerably.

Safety regulations are stricter, organised displays are more popular and many families prefer to enjoy fireworks from a distance rather than setting them off themselves.

There is also greater awareness of the impact fireworks can have on pets, wildlife and people who find sudden loud noises distressing.

Those changes are important, and many of the precautions we now take are there for very good reasons.

But for those of us who grew up with Bonfire Night in the 70s, 80s and 90s, there will always be something special about the memories.

The smell of smoke in the air, the excitement of a homemade Guy, the sound of fireworks echoing around the neighbourhood and the feeling of standing outside on a cold November evening with a hot baked potato in your hands.

We might look back and wonder how we got away with some of it, but those evenings were part of growing up.

And perhaps that’s the thing about nostalgia. We don’t necessarily want to bring everything back exactly as it was. Sometimes it’s enough to remember it, have a laugh and be grateful that we still have the stories to tell.

What do you remember about Bonfire Night when you were growing up? Did you make a Guy, build a bonfire in the garden, collect pennies in the street or have a particular firework that you always looked forward to?