Bonfire Night when you was a kid, what did you do?

[trt]

I remember when I was a kid and along with the neighbouring kids we used to build a big bonfire on a croft behind my house which was about 20 foot high with the wood we had collected or stolen for months.

We always had a guy Fawkes in a pram/chair near the shops to collect money for bangers or rip-raps weeks before and, most people used to give a few penny's. You never see this anymore.

We had toffee apples, black treacle and used to cook jacket potatoes on the bonfire with old wire coat hangers or sticks, and let off our own fireworks without parents being there.

I don't ever remember anybody getting hurt but, we wouldn't have noticed anyway because everybody was so excited.

The morning after we used to go back to the bonfire before school and look for fireworks that hadn't gone off..... great days!

[Mosaic]

Reading the answers here, including the reference to Christmas, I wonder if there was a time in the prosperous 1960s when such traditions as Guys, could easily have been discontinued?
Like for example Halloween 'foretelling' traditions - doing certain things like seeing your future partner disclosed etc. We don't do that any more - do we?

[sherrardk]

I managed to melt the soles of my shoes on a bonfire that I thought had cooled down - they went all wrinkly, like the edges of fried eggs. My mother went absolutely mental about it.

[Mortartube]

It is really nice to see fireworks mentioned in a positive way for once, instead of all the killjoys who want to eradicate a truly British tradition.

Interesting link EDDIE51. You will be surprised how many links are out there for enthusiasts who experiment with pyrotechnics and rocketry. And how many enthusiasts too. There are many worldwide.

[Mamyalynne]

I forgot to mention a hot steaming mug of black peas, yum!!