What's a bonfire?

Answer 1

A bonfire or balefire is a large controlled outdoor fire made from bales of straw or wood. The word is believed to be a corruption of "bone fire" deriving from a Celtic midsummer festival where animal bones were burnt to ward off evil spirits. In Great Britain, bonfires are particularly associated with Guy Fawkes Night (also known as fireworks night or bonfire night), an annual commemoration of the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot on 5 November 1605. While in Northern Ireland, they are associated with celebrations on the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, which took place on 12 July 1690. Along with the Maypole, it is an important component of the Wiccan and Neopagan celebration of Beltaine, also known as May Day.

In many regions of continental Europe, bonfires are made traditionally on 24 June, which is, for Roman Catholics, the solemnity of John the Baptist. The rite is, however, older, and originally was a pagan celebration of the summer solstice and hence celebrated as "midsummer" on 21 June.

In Japan, large fires called bon-bi are set to welcome the return of the spirits of the ancestors. Though the two terms are not etymologically or historically related, they serve similar purposes and indicate the universal importance of large fires.

The bonfire is part of a ritual of purification and consecration. In ancient times, cattle, important symbols of wealth and status, were led through the smoke of a bonfire. Couples who were to be wed on May Day would leap through the flames of the bonfire to seal their vows. Coals from a bonfire would be taken home to light the fires in family hearths, a practice thought to bring good fortune. It was also believed that the residents of the Faery realm were incapable of producing fire themselves; embers of bonfires would be carried to the underworld and tended there.

Nine woods are placed into a traditional Wiccan balefire. These woods are Rowan, Dogwood, Elder (this should read Birch), Poplar, Oak, Juniper, Holly, Cedar, and Apple. Occasionally, Pine is also used instead of Holly or Elder, as are a handful of other woods. In some regions, superstition, religious belief, or tradition prohibits the cutting of certain trees. Elder is the Lady's tree, burn it not or cursed ye'll be. This is in the Wiccan Rede. Do NOT burn elder in your Beltane fire.

Answer 2

A bonfire is a giant campfire basically. In olden times people usually danced or held celebrations or ceremonies around a bonfire. Today people just use the term when talking about building a regular fire, mostly. Or they use it for ceremonial reasons.
E.X. Homecoming Bonfies at schools.

Answer 3

a bonfire is basically a fire in the middle of a pit. Alot of people have bonfire parties, or when there camping. Its basically a fireplace in the middle of a campsite, backyard, beach, etc!

Answer 4

A bonfire is a fire that is made to celebrate an occasion such as halloween or beltane. Usually there are nine different wood that are used in the fire.

Answer 5

you don't know what a bonfire is well its a fire with a lot of wood and people sit around at night talking having fun or you can us it to keep warm

Answer 6

You get a large pile of wood, set it on fire, and
you have your self a bonfire.

Answer 7

In Celtic times and even earlier in most of Europe, the great fire was a gathering place for a communal ritual. It had mystic power of its own as the sign of light and life blazing in darkness beneath the gods.

Answer 8

a very big camp fire, kept under control its usually like a meter or 2 arcoss with flames able to reach like 4-5 meters on some of the biger fires

but they always kept under control, if not they turn in to a blaze very fast

Answer 9

its a british custom.....on guy forks night......5th november..........a bonfire is when they make a huge fire and put a guy on top of it made from old clothes and stuff and set it alight.....yes we are a little wierd over here

Answer 10

When people take huge peices of wood and make a huge fire.
Just a much bigger fire, basically.