Bonfire or Bone Fire
( Last modified on 22 Dec 2010 22:23 )

A Bonfire (Bone Fire) was originally a fire started to burn the bones of heathens, Pagans and other people who were considered as undesirable by the Christian Church and/or government, which in the past were often one and the same.

It has come to mean simply a large fire around which people party and have a good time.  Perhaps people even drink beer around a bonfire.  Most Bonfires today are probably not fueled with the bones of the dead.  Some may still be.

Huge Bonfires are often made at Beltane and on Midsummer's Eve, and for school homecomings.

Bonfires are also a good way to get rid of a lot of trash.