Bonfire Night

Saturday the 7^th of November saw piece of waste land behind some local shops become alive with food, drink and fire.  Local people, most of whom have houses which back onto the land, all came together to mix, chat, eat, drink, and keep warm.

 

This may not sound like an amazing feat; many people would have hosted their own gatherings over the weekend, but it seemed to me that there was an amazing sense of community amongst these neighbours and friends, some whom had been around for years, and others who were new and meeting people for the first time. It was a nice break from going to a massive local authority organised night, where you get lost in the crowd and can’t feel the heat of the fire cos its so far away…

 

The whole day brought people together, from the setting up and building of the (pretty massive) bonfire to the baking and preparing of food. The day has its heart in the local people; one described it as her ‘favourite night of the year’.

 

There is something magic (for lack of a better word) about fire. It brings people together, and it has been at the centre of cultures and communities for centuries. All we shared in common that night was the fire, it was our source of light and heat and it brought everyone together. Nothing else mattered.

 

I think we need to re-claim our sense of community within the places we live. This event, run by local people for local people, was a great example.