Bonfire Night

At about the same time of year Americans celebrate Halloween England celebrates November the fifth, when the plot by papist Guido Fawkes to blow up the houses of parliament was foiled. Some people say it's the modern replacement for the old celebrations of the Autumnal equinox when bonfires were lit to weaken the forces of darkness.

Anyway, there was a frost the other morning, it's coming up to bonfire time in East Sussex.
There are bonfire Societies all over the place in this part of the world, Rye, Hastings, Battle, and our village has one of the oldest.
Our preparations begin early in the day, the rabbit must go in the bathroom, the cat must not be fed so he hangs about and can be put in the bedroom and, after the big board has gone over the window, the owl will go into the Kitchen on her block. All eating has to be done before that, we take a kettle into the living room for when we come home.
The road through the village is shut from outside our house so any running around has to be over and done with early, then the cars are covered to stop falling ash from the bonfire and fireworks damaging the paintwork, the bonfire field is the one right behind our house.
The evening starts off with a fancy dress competition in the village hall. Most of the entrants are village children and someone usually has to be cajoled into entering the adult's classes. Although most of the bonfire society members come in fancy dress they see themselves as the organisers and not really eligible, the competition is judged by any newcomers to the village, this ensures impartiality and introduces them to our ways.