Fire Customs – Folk Calendar

Saturday 3 October

Sat 3 Oct from 19:15
Custom

Eastbourne Bonfire

Crown and Anchor, Eastbourne, East Sussex

Saturday 10 October New moon

Sat 10 Oct from 19:15
Custom

Heathfield Bonfire

Sets off from Heathfield Community Centre playing fields, East Sussex

Saturday 17 October

Sat 17 Oct 19:15 16:00
Custom

Hastings Borough Bonfire

Sets off from Beach opposite Pelham Crescent, Hastings, East Sussex
Sat 17 Oct from 19:15
Custom

Seaford Bonfire

Sets off from Martello Fields, Seaford, East Sussex
Sat 17 Oct from 19:30
Custom

Hailsham Bonfire

Sets off from Western Road Recreation Ground, Hailsham, East Sussex

Saturday 24 October

Sat 24 Oct from 19:30
Custom

Littlehampton Bonfire

Sets off from The Green by Banjo Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex

Saturday 31 October

Folklore from the old calendars

The Queen’s Hallowe’en at Balmoral No longer kept AberdeenshireAt Balmoral the estate people kept Hallowe'en with a torchlight procession of up to two hundred torch-bearers, and the torches were then heaped into a bonfire in view of the castle.
Fire and red low No longer kept EnglandDugdale noted in one of his almanacs of 1658 that on All Hallow Even the master of the family used anciently to carry a bunch of lighted straw about his corn.
The Black Short-tailed Sow No longer kept North WalesThe autumn fire lit in North Wales on the eve of 1 November came with a round of ceremonies, according to an account Hone quoted from Owen.
The Buchan Hallow Fire No longer kept Aberdeenshire, MorayIn Buchan a Hallow Eve fire was lit on rising ground, and in Moray the eve of 1 November had been kept as a thanksgiving for the safe gathering of the harvest.
The Callander Stones No longer kept PerthshireAt Callander a bonfire was lit in every village on All Saints' Eve.
The Logierait Faggots No longer kept PerthshireThe minister of Logierait in Perthshire described the chief ceremony of Hallowe'en, kept there on 31 October by the old style calendar.
Lating the Witches No longer kept LancashireOn Hallowe'en a party led by an old woman went round the bigger houses near Longridge Fell asking for lating candles, one for each person in the household.
Coel Coeth No longer kept North WalesOn All Saints' Eve every family in North Wales lit a large bonfire, called Coel Coeth, in the most prominent spot near the house.

Sat 31 Oct from 17:30
Custom

Samhain Fire at Athboy

Sets off from Fair Green, Athboy, County Meath
Sat 31 Oct 18:30 22:30
Custom

Samhuinn Fire Festival

Sets off from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh
Sat 31 Oct 19:30 16:00
Custom

Newick Bonfire

Sets off from The Green, Newick, East Sussex

Monday 2 November

Wednesday 4 November

Thursday 5 November

Folklore from the old calendars

Remember the Bonfire at Walthamstow No longer kept EssexOn Bonfire Night the bonfire boys of Walthamstow chanted the Gunpowder Plot rhyme, asking for a stick and a stake for King George's sake, and then gave three halloos.
Beating the sticks round the Marlborough bonfire No longer kept WiltshireAt the Marlborough bonfires the country people walked round the fire in a ring, holding thick club-sticks over their shoulders.
The Islip bonfire rhyme No longer kept OxfordshireThe boys who carried the guy round on the Fifth had many local versions of the rhyme.
The Purton bonfire No longer kept WiltshireFor weeks before the Fifth the boys of Purton went to every house begging faggots, with a rhyme threatening to take two if they were refused one, and one hard farmer lost a new pump to the fire.
Guy Fawkes’ Day Still kept EnglandAn Act of 1606 made the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot a holiday, and by Chambers's day it was one of the most joyous days of the year for English boys.

Thu 5 Nov 16:00 00:00
Custom

Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels

Sets off from The Square, Ottery St Mary, Devon

Saturday 7 November

Sat 7 Nov from 18:00
Custom

Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival

Sets off from High Street, Bridgwater, Somerset
Sat 7 Nov from 18:30
Custom

Edenbridge Bonfire

Sets off from Recreation Ground, Edenbridge, Kent
Sat 7 Nov from 18:30
Custom

East Hoathly and Halland Carnival

Sets off from High Street, East Hoathly, East Sussex
Sat 7 Nov 19:30 22:00
Custom

Battle Bonfire

Sets off from Abbey Green, Battle, East Sussex

Wednesday 11 November

Wed 11 Nov 12:00 16:00
Custom

Firing the Fenny Poppers

Sets off from Leon Recreation Ground, Fenny Stratford, Buckinghamshire
- Fire
- Fire Customs

Thursday 12 November

Saturday 14 November

Sat 14 Nov from 05:00
Custom

Hatherleigh Carnival and Tar Barrels

Sets off from Market Street, Hatherleigh, Devon

Tuesday 17 November

Wednesday 25 November

Monday 21 December

Thursday 24 December Cold Moon

Folklore from the old calendars

Unwashed hands and the Christmas fire Lore and belief EnglandMaids were warned to wash their hands before kindling the fire at Christmas, for a fire laid or lit with unwashed hands would not catch however hard they blew.
Psaltries for luck while the Yule log kindles No longer kept EnglandOn Christmas Eve the new log was lit from last year's brand, and music was played while it caught so that good luck would come with its burning.
The Yule-clog in the northern parts No longer kept Northern EnglandOn Christmas Eve families lit candles of an uncommon size and laid a great log on the fire, called the Yule-clog or Christmas-block, to light the house and turn the night into day.
No stirring the fire at the Yule supper Lore and belief Northern EnglandAt the northern Christmas Eve supper nobody was to stir the fire, move the candlestick or snuff the Yule candle, and nobody left the table until the meal was over.
The Yule candle No longer kept EnglandAlongside the Yule log a candle of great size, called the Yule candle or Christmas candle, lit the table through the evening.
The Yule log and the mock Lore and belief Cornwall, EnglandThe Yule log was brought in with ceremony on Christmas Eve and lit from the saved remains of the year before.
The ashen faggot Still kept DevonIn Devon the Yule log took the form of the ashen faggot, a bundle of ash sticks bound with bands of ash, ideally nine of them.

Friday 25 December

Thursday 31 December

Thu 31 Dec 21:15 16:00
Custom

Biggar Hogmanay Bonfire

Corn Exchange, Biggar, South Lanarkshire
Thu 31 Dec 23:00 00:30
Custom

Allendale Tar Bar’l

Sets off from Market Place, Allendale, Northumberland
Thu 31 Dec 23:00 00:30
Custom

Stonehaven Fireballs

Sets off from Mercat Cross, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire
Thu 31 Dec 23:30 00:30
Custom

Comrie Flambeaux

Sets off from Melville Square, Comrie, Perth and Kinross

Tuesday 5 January

Folklore from the old calendars

The fire for the Magi’s star No longer kept StaffordshireBlount recorded that the people of Staffordshire made a fire on the eve of Twelfth Day in memory of the blazing star that led the three Magi to the manger at Bethlehem.
Holly Night at Brough No longer kept WestmorlandOn Twelfth Night the people of Brough in Westmorland carried the holly tree, though by 1827 an ash was used, since ash was plentiful there.
The Sieve of Candles No longer kept LeinsterSir Henry Piers, describing County Westmeath, wrote that on Twelfth Night eve the people raised a sieve full of oats as high as they could, with twelve candles set round it and a larger one in the middle, all lit.
Twelve Fires and the Ox’s Cake No longer kept Gloucestershire, HerefordshireOn Twelfth Night eve Herefordshire farmers and their servants lit twelve small fires and one large one on the highest part of a wheat field, drank old cider and hallooed, and fifty or sixty other fires might be seen at once across the country.

Wednesday 6 January

Friday 8 January

Fri 8 Jan from 19:00
Custom

Scalloway Fire Festival

Sets off from Port Arthur, Scalloway, Shetland

Saturday 9 January

Sat 9 Jan 17:30 21:00
Custom

Much Marcle Wassail at Westons

Westons Cider Visitor Centre, Much Marcle, Herefordshire

Monday 11 January

Mon 11 Jan from 18:00
Custom

Burning the Clavie

Sets off from Granary Street, Burghead, Moray

Friday 15 January

Fri 15 Jan All day
Custom, day 1 of 3

Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival

Manor Leisure Centre, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire

Saturday 16 January

Sat 16 Jan Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival day 2 of 3 · All day

Sunday 17 January

Sun 17 Jan Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival day 3 of 3 · All day

Tuesday 26 January

Tue 26 Jan 19:30 16:00
Custom

Up Helly Aa

Sets off from Hillhead, Lerwick, Shetland

Friday 29 January

Tuesday 2 February

Wednesday 3 February

Tuesday 9 February

Wednesday 10 February

Friday 19 March

Fri 19 Mar from 19:30
Custom

Delting Up Helly Aa

Delting Boating Club, Brae, Shetland

Saturday 27 March

Friday 30 April

Fri 30 Apr from 19:30
Custom

Beltane Fire Festival

Sets off from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh

Saturday 1 May

Wednesday 12 May

Wednesday 23 June

Folklore from the old calendars

Burning bones to drive off the dragons Lore and belief EnglandSome medieval writers said the St John's Eve fires were made to drive away the dragons and evil spirits in the air.
A Midsummer fire in the open street No longer kept EnglandOn Midsummer Eve, in most country places and here and there in towns, old and young gathered round a large fire made in the open street.
A cheese through the Midsummer fire at Newton No longer kept GlamorganOld people at Newton in Glamorgan remembered meeting at a small stone enclosure near the village well on Midsummer Eve and throwing a small cheese across through the flames of the fire.
The culm fire at Port Eynon No longer kept GlamorganAt Port Eynon in Gower the villagers gathered culm, the small coal of the district, and kept it hidden for a fire on 23 June, Midsummer Eve.
Grass rent to Mannan on Barrule No longer kept Isle of ManOn Midsummer Eve the Manx carried green meadow grass to the top of Barrule as rent to Mannan-beg-mac-y-heir.
Fires to bless the apples No longer kept Herefordshire, SomersetOn Midsummer Eve people in Herefordshire and Somerset lit fires in the fields and along the lanes to bless the apples.
The Marching Watch No longer kept LondonIn medieval London a watch of at least two thousand men paraded the city on Midsummer Eve and again on the eves of St Peter and St Paul.
St John’s Eve fires in Ireland Still kept IrelandDonald McQueen of Skye told of seeing the Irish St John's Eve fires in 1782.
The Cumwhitton wake on St John’s Eve No longer kept CumberlandHutchinson's History of Cumberland says that the parish of Cumwhitton held its wake on the eve of St John, with the lighting of fires and dancing.
The Cooks’ bonfires on the Sandhill No longer kept NorthumberlandThe ordinary of the Company of Cooks at Newcastle, drawn up in 1575, bound the fellowship to keep up at its own cost the town's two bonfires on the Sandhill, as the ancient custom was.
Bonfires of amity in London No longer kept LondonStow, quoted by Hone, described how in June and July, on the eves of feast days, bonfires were made in the London streets with every man giving wood or labour.
The black dog at Whiteborough No longer kept CornwallBrand recorded that a Midsummer bonfire was once made on Whiteborough, a burial mound on St Stephen's Down near Launceston.
Midsummer torches in Cornwall No longer kept CornwallBorlase, quoted by Hone, wrote that on Midsummer Eve the Cornish people lit bonfires and walked round them with torches tarred and pitched at the end.

Thursday 24 June

Friday 25 June

Monday 28 June

Tuesday 29 June

Saturday 3 July

Sat 3 Jul from 12:00
Custom

Sma’ Shot Day

Sets off from Abbey Close, Paisley, Renfrewshire

Sunday 4 July New moon

Sun 4 Jul from 18:30
Custom

Whalton Baal Fire

Sets off from Whalton village green, Northumberland

Wednesday 7 July

Sunday 1 August

Tuesday 17 August Sturgeon Moon

Friday 24 September

Saturday 25 September

Sat 25 Sep from 18:30
Custom

Burgess Hill Bonfire

Sets off from Fairfield Recreation Ground, Burgess Hill, West Sussex

Saturday 3 October

Saturday 10 October🌑 New moon

Saturday 17 October

Saturday 24 October

Saturday 31 October

Monday 2 November

Wednesday 4 November

Thursday 5 November

Saturday 7 November

Wednesday 11 November

Thursday 12 November

Saturday 14 November

Tuesday 17 November

Wednesday 25 November

Monday 21 December

Thursday 24 December🌕 Cold Moon

Friday 25 December

Thursday 31 December

Tuesday 5 January

Wednesday 6 January

Friday 8 January

Saturday 9 January

Monday 11 January

Friday 15 January

Saturday 16 January

Sunday 17 January

Tuesday 26 January

Friday 29 January

Tuesday 2 February

Wednesday 3 February

Tuesday 9 February

Wednesday 10 February

Friday 19 March

Saturday 27 March

Friday 30 April

Saturday 1 May

Wednesday 12 May

Wednesday 23 June

Thursday 24 June

Friday 25 June

Monday 28 June

Tuesday 29 June

Saturday 3 July

Sunday 4 July🌑 New moon

Wednesday 7 July

Sunday 1 August

Tuesday 17 August🌕 Sturgeon Moon

Friday 24 September

Saturday 25 September

Image credits

Saturday 10 October New moon

Thursday 24 December Cold Moon

Sunday 4 July New moon

Tuesday 17 August Sturgeon Moon