| Summary: | Alanna Wicks interviews George Day, Dennis Flynn, and Thaddeus Symmonds about their Bonfire Night memories as part of a public program hosted by Memorial University's Public Folklore 6740 graduate class and The Rooms. “Coffee and Culture” at The Rooms, Part Two. November 3, 2001, St. John’s. Alanna introduces guests; Dennis speaks about variance in bonfire traditions amongst religions in NL (Catholic on Discovery Day on June 24th - Protestant bonfire on November 5th); George tells story about collecting kindling for the fire; George has no memory of tire rolling; Thaddeus recalls a “Flynn’s Beach” as a local spot; talks about collecting wood for the fire; Dennis recalls his childhood making bonfires on his grandparents property on November 5th; Dennis speaks about the “Running Brook Men” and their rivals competing to build the biggest fire; George remembers that if people “left things out” it was “fair game”; tells story about taking an apple barrel full of cans; never would take anything that would be valuable for livelihood; Thaddeus remembers adults being watchful over the kids so they would not take items to burn; Dennis tells story about whale oil barrels; George talks about canvas; Dennis talks about “old man’s beard”; Thaddeus talks about “blasty bows”; George mentions being a small child and having a small fire in the garden; making potatoes at the fire; Dennis talks about “Clean Fire” and “Dirty Fire”; food at bonfire night; Thaddeus talks about “Dirty Fire”; food at bonfires; George talks about potatoes at bonfires; audience members says she did that in Scotland; Dennis mentions corn in the husk at bonfires in Quebec; George not allowed to attend “old guys bonfire”; story about taking an outhouse; taking old boats; talking about Methodists at bonfire night; Dennis talks about recent bonfire nights and how the numbers are different than when he was growing up; Thaddeus talking about where he grew up; Catholic community but still did bonfires on Nov. 5; George relates that they did not know who Guy ...
|
|---|