Bonfire Night

In the Before Times, the founders of Willowmoor came from America where Thanksgiving was celebrated every fourth Thursday of November. Before they even arrived at the place they would build the village, they celebrated a Thanksgiving on the road while their caravan traveled through the harsh weather toward a place of safety. Though there was a grievous injury to the village captain's daughter that day, it was otherwise celebrated with the typical late lunch feast (what they could manage, anyway), the sport of football, and the spirit of gratitude.

By the time they were planted in a partially-built Willowmoor for the next last Thursday of November, there was not much to be grateful for after so many hardships that year - including several tragic deaths in the community. There was no announcement about Thanksgiving that year; instead, it was announced that a bonfire would be erected near the lake where a vigil would be held to remember those who were gone. Plenty of residents still walked through the usual Thanksgiving rituals, either because they were used to them or because they brought comfort, but plenty of others found other things to do with their holiday. Almost all the residents turned out for the bonfire, though, which was a sober affair that year in the midst of so much suffering.

The next year, the bonfire was yet again announced, and now some new traditions began forming to replace the old ones while other traditions held strong. Several youths and adults still engaged in the sport of football, but now a scavenger hunt popped up for the little ones at the same time. Instead of a late lunch feast, Turkey Twigs were offered at the bonfire, which was more festive this year apart from the time set aside for the vigil. The next year would see the advent of the new big traditional feast: a brunch to replace the earlier meals of the day.

Five years after Willowmoor gathered around that first fire, the day was moved to the last day of the month, given the name Bonfire Night, and made an official holiday of the village.

The most important part of Bonfire Night is the titular bonfire, and that is arranged by village leadership ahead of time every year. Once the fire is lit, there will be a member of leadership there as well until the evening's events have ended, at which time the bonfire is extinguished until the next year.

It's important the bonfire always be held near the lake as well since the abundance of water serves as a safety measure.

Again, they cannot have Bonfire Night without the bonfire! This means there must be plenty of dry wood to use as fuel.

For the vigil portion of the evening, most people bring a candle from home.

Though the leaders responsible for the bonfire itself may change with each year, the evening invocation and vigil are always conducted by the village captain.

The turkey twigs are sponsored by the hunters and given out by any restaurateurs who volunteer their service.

Bonfire Night as a holiday lasts all of the 30th day of the Month of Fire, falling almost right in the middle of the autumn season. The titular bonfire is typically lit sometime that morning so that any who wish to offer a silent and more private remembrance there before the evening's festivities may do so. The vigil itself takes place at 7 o'clock sharp that night, and festivities afterward may go on well past midnight, depending on what night of the week the 30th falls on.