by Keith Hillman

Created on: November 07, 2007

Remember remember
the fifth of November,
gunpowder treason and plot.
I see no reason
why gunpowder, treason,
should ever be forgot.

I've just returned from Lewes Bonfire night. I smell of smoke and my ears are ringing from the explosions of firecrackers. My mind is still whirling with images and sounds of this fantastic celebration.

The biggest night of the year in England is Guy Fawkes Night on the fifth of November each year. Most towns and villages have their own societies which ensure that the country is ablaze with bonfires, fireworks, torchlight processions and fancy dress on this special night. It marks the uncovering of the Gunpowder Plot, when Guy Fawkes loaded the cellars of the Houses of Parliament with explosives in a failed attempt to blow them up.

That was in 1605. Tonight, 402 years later, I was one of 100.000 people crowded into the narrow streets of the nearby market town of Lewes, which hosts the biggest Bonfire Night event in England.

Also on this day, the town commemorates the burning at the stake of 17 protestant martyrs outside the Star Inn during the Marian Persecutions of 1555 - 1507. 17 burning crosses are carried through the town to the memorial where prayers are said for the departed souls. Each year an effigy of the Pope is carried aloft then burned.

The day started with the ear splitting boom of a maroon at dawn. During the day, tension mounted in expectation of the festivities to come.

Whilst most places have one Bonfire Society, Lewes boasts no less than seven! They all have their own names, identities and colourful hooped jumper uniforms'. Each of them creates their own tableau which are massive works of art and are often made behind closed doors by a handful of people prior to the event. This skilled work is often carried out by family members who have handed down the task down from generation to generation. The main ones are of Guy Fawkes himself and of course, the Pope. Many are of topical characters who the locals feel deserved be burned at the end of the evening, and others are based on topics currently in the news for whatever reason. In 2001 Osama bin Laden was featured attracting much attention from the national press. President Bush was also featured one year sitting astride a missile. This year the biggest was a 20 feet high model of the Beatles in recognition of the 40th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper. Another was a giant cigarette on which the words 'Smoking gone - alcohol next'. One society also carried pikes on which were fixed

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