The Tradition of Bonfires

The History of Bonfire Night and Traditions

at the

Rotary Club of Senlac St Leonards

The Club was very fortunate to have as its guest on Wednesday, 3 rd December 2025,
a man who is a renowned expert on English traditional customs and who revived
Jack in the Green and the Hastings Bonfire Society’s procession and bonfire
celebrations. Keith Leech spoke about how and why the tradition of the 5 th November
bonfire and effigy burning came about. The conflict between Catholicism and
Protestantism resulting from Henry VIII’s breaking away from the Catholic Church
and then the subsequent changes in Monarch’s with different religious beliefs
created much friction in the country, friction known as the War of Religion. During
this time protestant dissenters to the Monarch’s decrees that the country should be
catholic were burned at the stake, Martyrs to the cause. In Sussex alone 17
protestants were burned at the stake and there is a memorial in Lewes to those who
were executed in the streets there. In 1605 when James I, a prominent Protestant
who was not tolerant of the Catholics, was on the throne, Robert Catesby, a leading
Catholic decided that there should be replaced by a Catholic Monarch. With like-
minded people he planned what was to become the Gunpowder Plot; Guy Fawkes
was recruited to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5 th November when Parliament
reopened and the Royals were present thus removing the Protestant leaders. The
plot was uncovered before the 36 barrels of gunpowder could be ignited and the
attempt to blow up parliament failed. When people heard what had happened,
bonfires were lit in the street, people danced and let of pistols. And here began the
tradition, even encouraged by Cromwell. Effigies, mainly religious figures, were
burned on the fire. At the time of the French Revolution the English authorities
banned bonfires and fireworks on the street considering them as a possible threat to
law and order in this country. Not all counties, particularly like Sussex which was
difficult to access in those days, followed the ban and the traditions continued.
Keith spoke of the local bonfire societies in Sussex and Kent and the traditions they
have maintained, and of how the effigies have changed over the years to satirise and
mock politicians, people, and newsworthy events.
Thank you, Keith, for such an interesting and entertaining talk.