Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''bonefire'' a [[fire]] of bones, from ''bon'' bone + ''fire''

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''bonefire'' a [[fire]] of bones, from ''bon'' bone + ''fire''

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_century 15th Century]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_century 15th Century]

==Definition==

==Definition==

*1:  a large [[fire]] built in the open [[air]]

*1:  a large [[fire]] built in the open [[air]]

A '''bonfire''' is a controlled outdoor [[fire]] used for informal disposal of burnable [[waste]] material or as part of a [[celebration]]. Celebratory ''bonfires'' are typically designed to burn quickly and may be very large. The name "bonfire" is from "bone-fire".

A '''bonfire''' is a controlled outdoor [[fire]] used for informal disposal of burnable [[waste]] material or as part of a [[celebration]]. Celebratory ''bonfires'' are typically designed to burn quickly and may be very large. The name "bonfire" is from "bone-fire".

In the ancient [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druid_religion druid religions], bonfires were held between 31 October and 5 November to celebrate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain Samhain], a [[harvest]] festival where they used bonfires to burn the bones of the slaughtered livestock they had stored for the [[winter]] months. People and their livestock would often walk between two bonfires as a cleansing [[ritual]], and the bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into its flames. Some modern day Druids and Pagans see bonfire night as a significant [[celebration]] to end the [[harvest]] festival.

In the ancient [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druid_religion druid religions], bonfires were held between 31 October and 5 November to celebrate [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain Samhain], a [[harvest]] festival where they used bonfires to burn the bones of the slaughtered livestock they had stored for the [[winter]] months. People and their livestock would often walk between two bonfires as a cleansing [[ritual]], and the bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into its flames. Some modern day Druids and Pagans see bonfire night as a significant [[celebration]] to end the [[harvest]] festival.

In [[Israel]], on the eve of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lag_BaOmer Lag BaOmer], bonfires are lit on to commemorate the Mishnaic sage [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimon_Bar_Yochai Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai] who according to [[tradition]] died on Lag BaOmer. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai is accredited with having composed the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabbalah Kabalistic] work The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zohar Zohar] (literally "The Shining" - hence the [[custom]] of lighting fire to commemorate him). The main celebration takes place at Rabbi Shimon's [[tomb]] on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt._Meron Mt. Meron] in northern Israel, but all over the country bonfires are lit in open spaces. Linked by Modern Jewish tradition to the Bar Kokhba Revolt against the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire Roman Empire] (132-135 CE).  

In [[Israel]], on the eve of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lag_BaOmer Lag BaOmer], bonfires are lit on to commemorate the Mishnaic sage [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimon_Bar_Yochai Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai] who according to [[tradition]] died on Lag BaOmer. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai is accredited with having composed the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabbalah Kabalistic] work The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zohar Zohar] (literally "The Shining" - hence the [[custom]] of lighting fire to commemorate him). The main celebration takes place at Rabbi Shimon's [[tomb]] on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt._Meron Mt. Meron] in northern Israel, but all over the country bonfires are lit in open spaces. Linked by Modern Jewish tradition to the Bar Kokhba Revolt against the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire Roman Empire] (132-135 CE).  

Bonfires are used on [[Farming|farms]], in large [[gardens]] and allotments to dispose of [[waste]] plant material that is not readily [[composted]]. This includes woody material, pernicious weeds, diseased material and material treated with persistent pesticides and herbicides. Such bonfires may be quite small but are often designed to burn slowly for several days so that wet and green material may be reduced to ash by frequently turning the unburnt material into the centre. Such bonfires can also deal with turf and other earthy material. The ash from garden bonfires is a useful source of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potash potash] and may be beneficial in improving the [[soil]] structure of some soils although such fires must be managed with [[safety]] in mind. Garden and farm bonfires are frequently smoky and can cause local nuisance if poorly managed or lit in unsuitable [[weather]] conditions.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonfire]

Bonfires are used on [[Farming|farms]], in large [[gardens]] and allotments to dispose of [[waste]] plant material that is not readily [[composted]]. This includes woody material, pernicious weeds, diseased material and material treated with persistent pesticides and herbicides. Such bonfires may be quite small but are often designed to burn slowly for several days so that wet and green material may be reduced to ash by frequently turning the unburnt material into the centre. Such bonfires can also deal with turf and other earthy material. The ash from garden bonfires is a useful source of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potash potash] and may be beneficial in improving the [[soil]] structure of some soils although such fires must be managed with [[safety]] in mind. Garden and farm bonfires are frequently smoky and can cause local nuisance if poorly managed or lit in unsuitable [[weather]] conditions.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonfire]

[[Category: Anthropology]]

[[Category: Anthropology]]