Celebrations in my town

Our town seems to celebrate at the drop of a hat.  We've just finished the Christmas celebrations...

...but the Christmas parade took place after dark so the pictures were scarce.

Earlier we had fireworks for Guy Fawkes' Day

You can just about make out the pier in the background.  It didn't burn down.

There is always a summer carnival and its parade.

These two little girls had very little idea of what was going on but they marched to their own beat and seemed to enjoy it enormously.

But of course this year the big celebration came when:

...the Olympic torch relay came to town.

It was party time!!!  Even at 9 o'clock in the morning.

A two-in-one post for the Photo Hunts. 

Please to remember the fifth of November

Please to remember the fifth of November

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

We see no reason why gunpowder, treason

Should ever be forgot.

Variously known as Guy Fawkes' Day, Fireworks Night or Bonfire Night, 5 November commemorates the unsuccessful attempt (the Gunpowder Plot) by Guy Fawkes and other Catholic conspirators to blow up the Houses of Parliament when King James I was there during the State Opening in 1605.

Traditionally children used to make a "guy" out of old clothes stuffed with newspaper or straw, not unlike a scarecrow , then take the guy out on the street on a pram or something similar. They would ask passers by for "a penny for the guy" to be spent on fireworks. Ultimately the guy would be burnt on the bonfire. I can't remember the last time I saw children with a guy.

Once families would have had a bonfire and fireworks in their own gardens. Unfortunately there have been so many injuries from fireworks that people are nowadays encouraged to attend organised public events. In spite of the fact that the public fireworks are much more elaborate than anything ever put on in a private garden, it's something of a shame really, because the atmosphere is largely lost. I can still almost taste the burnt sausages and potatoes we used to cook around the fire. Nothing quite like it!