THE FIRST BONFIRES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20000, 7 January 1935, Page 14

THE FIRST BONFIRES

Bonfires are an ancient mode of rejoicing; there is much less doubt in regard to their antiquity thon as respects the origin of the name. Fire, as is well known, was liberally used in the worship of several of the pagan deities, particularly Baal; and similar rites in honour of the sun and fire are said to have been observed in some parts of Ireland a century ago. Apollo was also -worshipped by an attempt to imitate his own light. All the Gothic tribes were accustomed to kindle large fires on the tops of hills at the summer solstice, in honour of the sun. and to pursue all kinds of amusement around them; and a similar usage made a part of the great festivals of tile Druids. The Christians adopted it, and used it on various occasions, but principally on Mid-summer-eve. the same season to which it had been appropriated before, when the various ceremonies of the vigil of St. John were practised by the light of what they were the first to call bonfires. This was the most brilliant of all the old English festivals; the fires were kindled early in the evening in every village, and in the streets of the cities: young girls stole forth at midnight to gather the St. John’s-wort. in order to penetrate one. at least, of the important secrets of futurity, while the bold adventured to gather the magical fern seed, in defiance of evil spirits, who guarded it from violation.