What are your enduring childhood memories of Guy Fawkes' night?
Was it the fireworks themselves, or standing around a sky-scraping bonfire in the middle of the green? Perhaps it was the excitement leading up to the night, or the a traditional Bonfire Night tea that tasted so much better getting back indoors after a freezing November night (November nights seemed much colder then!)
To find out some of your favourite memories, the MEN posted some nostalgic images of Bonfire Night's past to Manchester Facebook groups and pages. Many took to the comments to share their fondest memories.
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It seems a lot of the excitement came in the lead up to the day itself. In particular, collecting firewood to build the bonfires, referred to by some as 'loggin' for wood.'"
Whether it was scrap wood found lying around, or even the odd gate here and there, it all went on the giant wooden pyramid forming on a patch of grass or wasteland. Also in the lead up to Bonfire Night was asking 'Penny for the Guy', with the money collected inevitably being spent on sweets or fireworks.
For beautiful, historic images from the past have a look at memorylane.co.uk/ and see what you can discover
Another favourite memory for many was the food traditionally eaten on Bonfire Night. Hours could be spent baking potatoes in their jackets, or cooking them in the bonfire itself.
Another sweet, autumnal favourite at that time of year was treacle toffee - so dark and solid, the only way to get it out of the tray was to shatter it with a hammer. But perhaps the most enduring memories that people shared, were of how the large street bonfires would see neighbours come together to light sparklers, share food, and set off fireworks.
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One person commenting on the nostalgic photos on the 'Greater Manchester history, memories and people' Facebook page remembered "Going 'Loggin' for wood. Being able to walk into a shop at about the age of eight or nine on my own with a 10 'bob' note and come out with a box of fireworks or pockets full of bangers."
Another person said: "Mums making food, baking potatoes in the bonfire, dads clubbing together to buy beer," adding: "And of course the fireworks."
Another posted: "Oh yeah, happy days. Any treacle toffee?" While another person commented: "All the neighbours getting together buying fireworks and food - the good old days."
On the 'Memories of growing up in and around Manchester' Facebook group, one person said: "When I was young the bonfire was in the middle of the street. Everyone joined in and our parents baked potatoes and we shared Parkin and treacle toffee. Fireworks were controlled by the dads and we kids were happy with sparklers."
Another posted: "Jacket potatoes straight from the fire. Toffee apples. No loud bangs just normal fireworks. Bliss."
What are your memories of past Bonfire Nights? Let us know in the comments section below.
On the 'I grew up in Manchester No1' Facebook group, one person remembered "nicking the wooden gates in the council estate for bonfire wood (a long time ago)". The photos also brought back fond memories for another, who said: "Eating baked potatoes after dark with a big roaring bonfire with all our neighbours in Wythenshawe."
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