Bonfire Night and 'Sinners Souls'
I felt the need to share this Bonfire Night story before it’s too late, although I have no doubt that in the telling it will turn out to be one of those funny at the time moments. I apologise unreservedly in advance.
I should point out that I’m not a Catholic, although my wife is, as are our children. I’m not particularly religious myself, but I do think if you’re going to go in for that sort of thing it’s worth doing properly. From time to time I have to attend the C of E family service with my daughters through Brownies. I’m always struck by the “If you don’t want to pray, just bow your head for moment” inclusive nature of it all. Personally I prefer a bit of fire and brimstone. I want someone yelling at me to get my head down and pray unless I want to burn in the fire of Hell for all eternity.
I should also point out that I love Bonfire Night. It has also seemed to as the most uniquely British of our celebrations. Obviously it’s steeped in British history, but also the whole approach to it. Try explaining the non burning Guy Fawkes stuff to a small child. “So the fireworks are to celebrate the fact he didn’t blow up Parliament?”, “Erm...” I’ve always seen it as a celebration of what might have been. I mean who gets excited about the bonfire on Bonfire Night? It’s all about the fireworks.
I like the fact that because sparklers are required you have to dig out your gloves for the first time, so you end up wrapping up with hats and scarves for the first time of the winter.
I live about a mile from our local display on the Great Lines which is organised by the Royal Engineers (they know a thing or two about fireworks) and it’s completely free. One of my favourite moments is the crowd of people in the surrounding streets when it finishes, the roads that are closed, and the roads that are rendered impassable by the throng of people.
Anyway, the point of all this. Last night we went to see the fireworks at the lines with friends and the kids. We saw them light the fire, we did the sparkler thing and then we had the fireworks. By long standing tradition we “ooh” and “ah” enthusiastically (And have done for years, long before the arrival of the kids). Last night amongst our foolish comments my wife pointed out the fireworks that zig-zagged upwards screeching were in fact the souls of sinners trying to ascend to heaven. I should point out she wasn’t serious, but it was one of those comments that stuck in my mind, and once there I couldn’t get it out. Having sat through a fair few Masses in my time I pointed out but that surely if they were sinners they wouldn’t be going upwards. “But you can see they don’t get very far...”
Silly I know, but I thought it was a uniquely Catholic perspective on the celebration. And I can’t hear those screeching fireworks now without smiling and finding it all a little sinister.
