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Bonfire Traditions Facts & Worksheets

A bonfire is a contained outdoor fire that can be used for celebratory or practical reasons. Bonfires are used in different traditions all over the world.

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A bonfire is a contained outdoor fire that can be used for celebratory or practical reasons. Bonfires are used in different traditions all over the world.

See the fact file below for more information on the Bonfire Traditions or alternatively, you can download our 25-page Bonfire Traditions worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Background

  • Depending on the country, a bonfire can signify different celebrations, traditions, and functions.
  • Bonfires are lit at different times of the year.
  • The functional use of bonfires are commonly to burn waste crop material, such as wood, weeds, and infected plants.
  • Bonfires can also be lit for fun.
  • You can sing campfire songs, share ghost stories, and roast marshmallows around a bonfire.
  • In many European regions, bonfires are made for religious traditions, such as in the night before Easter, the evening of St. John’s Day, and Midsummer Eve.

How to Make a Bonfire

  • Basically, to make a bonfire, you need a pile of dry wood and a lighter or match to light it up.
  • Other materials that can be used to build a bonfire are logs, twigs, leaves, bricks, stones, bark, and scrap paper.
  • Pile the wood together in a shallow pit and surround it by bricks or stones.
  • Use a match or a lighter to ignite the wood.
  • Always equip yourself with safety precautions.

Safety Precautions

  • It is very important to take note that you should light a bonfire in a safe place to avoid fire danger.
  • You should also find out if bonfires are legal in your town or city.
  • If unsure, always check with your local fire department.
  • Have a source of water close by in case of emergency.
  • Don’t throw damp materials or firecrackers into the bonfire.
  • Don’t use gasoline to fuel the bonfire.
  • Light the bonfire away from trees and cable wires.
  • Keep children away from the bonfire.
  • Don’t leave the bonfire unattended.

Bonfire Events

  • Famous events where bonfires are lit collectively are Bonfire Night, Halloween, and St. John’s Eve.
  • However, there are more festivities around the world where bonfires signify celebration or commemoration.
  • Alpine
    • In August every year since 1988, Feuer in den Alpen is held. It means “fire in the alps.”
    • The bonfire serves as a symbol for the preservation of the Alpine ecosystem.
    • It seeks to encourage locals to be responsible for the sustainable development of the Alps.
  • Australia
    • Bonfires are banned in many areas of Australia.
    • Laws regarding bonfires vary in different regions and states.
    • Bonfire night is celebrated annually in Killarney, Australia.
  • Canada
    • In celebration of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, locals of Quebec light up bonfires every June 24th.
    • Bonfire night is celebrated in Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • Czech Republic
    • “Burning the Witches” is a festival in the Czech Republic that happens every April 30th.
    • It’s named as such because fires are known to ward off witches and wicked spirits.
    • This night celebrates the end of winter.
    • During this night, Czechs gather to build a huge bonfire and sometimes put up a maypole.
    • The ashes from the fire are believed to be magical and good for crops.
  • France
    • France also celebrates Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day – a solstice celebration – with bonfires.
  • India
    • To celebrate the winter solstice, a folk festival in Punjab called Lohri is held every January 13th.
    • Another festival celebrated in mid-January is a harvest festival called Bhogali Bihu. During this festival, bonfires are lit and used to burn unwanted things in residents’ homes.
    • A bonfire is also lit during the famous Holi festival
  • Iran
    • A fire jumping festival called Chaharshanbe Suri (Wednesday Light) or Festival of Fire is celebrated every last Wednesday before the vernal equinox.
    • During this cultural fire festival of Iranians, Kurdish, and Persians, people light up bonfires and chant cultural songs.
  • Ireland
    • There are three main dates when bonfires are lit all over Ireland: April 30 (Bealtaine festival); June 23 (St. John’s eve); and October 31 (Halloween).
  • Iraq
    • Bonfires are lit by families during the Feast of the Cross.
  • Israel
    • During the Jewish holiday called Lag BaOmer, bonfires are lit to commemorate the death of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.
  • Italy
    • Bonfires are lit in different regions of Italy for various reasons.
  • Japan
    • Gozan no Okuribi, more popularly known as Daimonji, is a festival in Kyoto wherein five big bonfires are lit to serve as the culmination of the Obon festival.
  • Nordic Countries
    • Bonfires are lit on New Year’s Eve in Iceland; on Midsummer’s Eve In Finland, Estonia and Latvia; and on the eve before John the Baptist’s birthday in Norway and Denmark.
  • United Kingdom
    • Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night is an annual celebration every November 5th to commemorate the Gunpowder Plot of 1905.
  • United States
    • Bonfires are lit along the Mississippi River on Christmas Eve in St. James Parish in Louisiana to serve as a path of light for Papa Noel.
    • On the eve before the fourth of July, bonfires are lit in some parts of New England in preparation for the celebration the next day.

Bonfire Traditions Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Bonfire Traditions across 25 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Bonfire Traditions worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the bonfire which is a contained outdoor fire that can be used for celebratory or practical reasons. Bonfires are used in different traditions all over the world.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Bonfire Traditions Facts
  • What’s in a Bonfire?
  • Bonfire Do’s and Don’ts
  • Words as Fuel
  • Match the Night
  • It’s Bonfire Night!
  • Bonfires in Asia & the Middle East
  • Bonfires in Europe
  • Poemfire
  • Around the Bonfire
  • Campfire Song

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Link will appear as Bonfire Traditions Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 22, 2018

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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