Cracker Night: Do you remember the fun it was?
ED: I remember cracker night well, at the end of our street was a large paddock for weeks beforehand built a bonfire and on the cracker night the whole street would gather, the fathers supervised, and we all had a wonderful time … great memories even today.
Cracker Night, also known as Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night, was a prominent tradition celebrated on the 5th of November for over 400 years. This historic event commemorates the foiled Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators attempted to blow up the House of Lords in London. The night is marked by fireworks, bonfires, and the burning of effigies, originally of Guy Fawkes himself.
In its heyday, Cracker Night was an eagerly anticipated event, especially for young boys.
Modern-day Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) regulations would undoubtedly frown upon the activities that were commonplace during Cracker Night’s peak. By the 1980s, concerns about the injuries from burns and other accidents led to the banning of such celebrations in most states. However, it is worth noting that the hazards of the time were not limited to fireworks; magpies, with their aggressive swooping, were notorious for causing eye injuries during the season.
Despite the inherent risks, Cracker Night was typically overseen by adults. This supervision was crucial in managing the bonfires and ensuring that children handled crackers and rockets as safely as possible. The potential for pain and injury from improper handling taught many youngsters valuable lessons in common sense and caution. They learned quickly when to turn their backs, cover their faces, and run to avoid harm.
Cracker Night holds a significant place in cultural memory, evoking nostalgia for a time when communal festivities and the thrill of a little danger were part and parcel of growing up. While the safety regulations have since curtailed such practices, the stories and memories of Cracker Night continue to be passed down, a testament to its enduring legacy.
Cracker Night was more than just a celebration; it was a rite of passage for many, blending excitement, danger, and valuable life lessons. Although modern safety concerns have largely put an end to such traditions, the spirit of Cracker Night lives on in the stories and memories of those who experienced its thrills and learned from its risks.
Hi Ray. Cracker night ????????. Empire day. 24 May. 1/2 day of school to blow neighbors letter box’s.
Hope all is well. Cheers Ian
Hi Ray,
We have much the same in our lives, as you have told the story of Bonfire Nights exactly as it was and how that experience was good for our character.
Our family built the Bonfire in the top paddock every year and half of Bridgetown would come. My brother Mick’s thrill was having the biggest and highest shooting Skyrocket. I just loved the Penny Bungers and Tom Thumbs, anything that had a bang.
Thank you for the rekindled memories
Cheers mate,
PB
Hi Ray, I’m back again.
Just had an epiphany that gave the same rite of passage, blending excitement, danger, and valuable life lessons and experiences, was shooting a 303 Rifle.
Every town, city and district had a RIFLE RANGE. On Saturday Afternoons there was a club shoot happening, with most being a Family activity.
Hence our young, old, brothers, sisters, mums and dads were all prepared to some degree with Fire-Arm handling and usage.
Every house had a 410 Shoot Gun so MUM could shoot snakes that came to the back door.
Now Australian Governments objective is to take all Firearms and activities out of the community and away from allowing the public from valuable knowledge and capability.
As you said modern safety concerns have been taken too far and reduced the average Aussie to timidity.
Cheers