bonfire societies

Latest bonfire societies posts

• We have all heard calls at the bonfire firesite "burn the effing pope" .Remember the "no Floodery" posters in reaction to the towns former RC Priests views on bonfire. A few years back an article on the book "Foxes Protestant Martyrs" appeared in one bonfire societies programme. Is hostility to catholicism different depending which part of the country you live in? I remember talking to a now deceased former Lewes Tory Councillor, whose views re the Church of Rome were very hardline, never stopped him being re elected. If 40% of the people of Lewes were French and wanted Lewes to become part of France, lets not pretend we would have a normal society. Yet 40%of Northern Irelands, population want to bring it down, which is why the Unionists feel the need to exhibit their British Protestant identity.


• What was OK in the Seventeenth Century is not necessarily what is OK today. Otherwise owning slaves and witch burning would still be legal and socially acceptable. It was the legislation that permitted the creation of Catholic bishoprics that led to revival of the Nov 5 celebrations and the formation of Lewes Bonfire Societies. So, in that sense, they were anti-Catholic. But that doesn't mean that they still are today.


• We in the Bonfire Societies do not need reminding as to the original and still maintained meanings of our celebrations. It's the ignorant detractors that fail to properly research our reasons for blowing up Pope Paul V.
  WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH HIM?


• You don't need to devote a lot of time to the bonfire societies to join. I'm a member of Southover, and although I get quite a lot of emails asking for help with torch making, I rarely have time. It's simply a matter of finding (or making!) a decent costume and lining up to march on the night.
  
  That all said... I actually prefer not to march as you see more of the spectacle of the whole thing. If this is your first year, I'd enjoy the evening by wandering around town and seeing what goes on - plenty of time to march in the future.


• Sir,
  
  As a native Lewesian, I find Mr Smith and his narrow-minded assertions detestable. Lewes is without doubt one of the most embracing, liberal and welcoming towns in all of England ? and a place that I am extremely proud to be from.
  
  I don't need to justify Lewes' welcoming culture ? there's an entire population who know what a unique place our town really is. What I do wish to say is that I am so tired of people's continued vilification of Bonfire Night. This is a famous, historical, traditional event that permeates the very spirit of Lewes and connects everyone in the town. Rich cultural heritage like this should be encouraged ? Zulus included. By eradicating elements of it, we would succumb to the same cultural persecution that Mr Smith dreams that he is 'suffering' from.
  
  Lewesians can take comfort in two facts:
  
  i) Our town is a beautiful, embracing, unique place that welcomes everybody.
  ii) This dribble was published on The Sunday Times, which users now have to pay to read. Their online readership has dropped dramatically as a result, which means this idiotic vitriol will not reach many people.
  
  Perhaps some of the bonfire societies could oblige by building an effigy of Mr Smith this year...