Keeping childhood magic alive on Bonfire Night

Remember, remember the fifth of November: fireworks, sparklers, and barking dogs.

We all know the story of Bonfire Night and why we celebrate it, but how well does this translate to the modern age?

Many people argue that celebrating an attempt to blow up a monarch with fireworks is

counter-intuitive, and for the most part, it is. However, there is a certain magic behind this night.

As a child, Bonfire Night meant layering up in the warmest clothes and spending the evening watching the sky glisten with colourful bursts of light. It meant apple bobbing, making cinder toffee, and scribbling names of boys I liked with sparklers in the sky.

Cold, rainy afternoons meant time spent indoors making dens and playing games, before splashing through puddles in wellies and jumping into piles of leaves. For tea, it was always soup and hot dogs, a warming meal for hands cold from being outside.

This time of year has always been my favourite time to visit the villages in my area, where there were scarecrow contests and kids wheeling around make-shift Guys to burn on the bonfire.

However, Bonfire Night can be a difficult time for pet-owners and people who don’t do well with loud noises. It's important to keep pets indoors, especially if you live in an area where there are lots of celebrations.

It’s easy for the childhood magic of bonfire night to disappear as we get older, but there are lots of ways to keep the excitement alive. Bonfire Night is the perfect excuse for a sleepover, getting in all the festive snacks and catching up on all the new Netflix releases.

It’s also the season of comfort food, whether homemade or takeout. My mum used to make toad in the hole and homemade apple pie, two warming seasonal favourites of mine.

Fireworks can also cause environmental damage, with litter being left from gatherings of people at bonfires. Although it’s only one night, it’s important to consider the environment you may be disturbing by holding a firework display.

So, whether you’re going to a firework display or staying home with furry friends, remember that childhood magic that made this time of year feel so special.

Edited by Charlotte Smith