Autumnal Times: the Burning of Effigies and Dressing as a Cheesy Wotsit.
Halloween, November the Fifth, and British Culture.
I am writing this as the days become shorter and the last leaves fall, in between two highlights in this period of the British calendar. Many have already thrown themselves into the spirit of Halloween, with Bonfire Night due at the weekend. Wacky skeleton outfits, pumpkins, and horror film flicks. Followed by giant bonfires, sparklers and fireworks lighting up the night sky with colour. At a time when the dark cold nights draw in and energy bills rise by tradition for households. Time for some fun and entertainment.
Halloween sees the often-tacky commercialisation of All Hallows Eve, All Saints Eve, and the deeper pagan roots, of the ancient Celtic and traditional Gaelic festival of Samhain, followed by Bonfire Night, known also as Guy Fawkes Night or Fireworks Night; this proceeding celebration of the brutal execution of Catholics. The public observance of which became law between 1606 and 1859 in Britain.
As British culture becomes more American influenced by the minute, we seemed to have left something of our own rich European identity behind at this time of year. Halloween used to be more about the gothic, hauntings, the undead, vampires, spirits from the other side, a portal to the dead, to the esoteric – all connecting back to the age-old traditions of this time of year, suppressed for centuries by Christianity. These traditions to remember the dead, connect to portals of the underworld, and to honour old gods. Now people dress up as Cheesy Wotsits, Cheerleaders and Superheroes. In mainstream culture, Halloween has truly lost its roots and tradition turning into a commercialised comedy ready for an Instagram post. This most excellently portrayed by London based Canadian comic Katherine Ryan, posting pictures on Instagram of herself dressed up for Halloween as a Cheesy Wotsit, sponsored by Walkers Crisps.
With a growing affiliation by many to ancient natural ways, to witchcraft, paganism, and traditional earthly rights, many choose to acknowledge Samhain with a clear demarcation from Halloween. Many more observe Halloween itself with various interpretations; to generalise, these fall into four main camps; an alcohol fuelled ‘shits and giggles’ event, a trick or treat kids event fuelled by sugar rushes, a bring a bottle house-party with a powerful punch bowl, or a watch fest of classic horror films with a glass of red. I prefer the latter these days to be honest.
And to the weekend and Sunday night, November the fifth, Bonfire Night. The sound of fireworks begin, as is the urban tradition, in the preceding days and weeks leading to the ritual burning of a Guy Fawkes effigy for the 417th year in a row; giggling teens throwing fireworks at each other. Explosions frightening dogs, cats, and commuters. At least the people of Lewes see the rebellious side to Bonfire Night and the opportunity to modernise, and positively reinterpreted dated traditions of what is essentially about religious tension and persecution. Burning effigies of Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak in recent years, instead of an effigy of the lead character from a group of Catholics who were hung, drawn, and quartered in 1606 after their alleged Gunpowder plot to blow up the House Of Lords failed. Not the Houses of Parliament as is often stated. Those who allegedly wanted to assassinate King James I and his parliament in turn, placing a Catholic King in England.
Of the seven Bonfire societies in Lewes only the Cliff Bonfire Society still burn the Pope, attracting protestants from Northern Ireland in the reverie - that I have personally witnessed. My favoured Bonfire society has been Southover, who burnt an effigy of Matt Hancock in 2021. Some traditions become dated, unnecessary, and only a continuation of prejudices and struggle, while other interpretations deserve to thrive in contemporary contexts.
We must respectfully remember the origins to these autumnal festivals and not lose sight of how they are interpreted with the contexts of both history and the present day. So while holding a shiny sparkler, or parading in your Cheesy Wotzit outfit, whether its remember, remember, the fifth of November, or the spooking or howling hilarities of Halloween – think on! For a just a moment. The reprieve for ‘shits and giggles’ most probably required in times like these. Embrace the Cheesy Wotsit.