"Traditionally, bonfires were, and are, lighted at various dates during the year throughout the countryside; in some places bonfires were lighted perhaps three or four times during the year, in others only once. For EACH and EVERY date during the year when such fires were lighted, please set out below the following information, insofar as you know it or can discover it locally."
1. On what date was the bonfire lighted? 2. At what time in the day or night, approximately, was it lighted? 3. For what reason was it lighted? 4. By whom was it lighted? 5. Where in the locality was it lighted (e.g. on a hill- top, in a farmyard, on the roadway, at a crossroads, etc.)? 6. Did the bonfire take any special form or shape, and what materials were used for burning? 7. How many people attended the bonfire? 8. Did people attending the bonfires do anything special (e.g. dancing, singing, etc.)? 9. How recently have bonfires been lighted on the date you mention (approximate year)?. Please take in turn each date when bonfires were, or are, lighted in your district, and work through the above list of questions, setting down your answers below. In addition, please note down any other details about bonfires that occur to you; in particular, sometimes bonfires were lighted in connection with special events (e.g. weddings, election nights) not associated with specific calendar dates; information about those would be valuable. ------------------ Bonfires were, and still are, lighted by members of the Orange Order, and by their supporters, on certain dates. For purposes of research into this "traditional" aspect of Orange celebrations, it would be valuable if you would complete replies to the following brief questions. Where alternatives (e.g. were/are, yes/no) are given in the questions or answers, please strike out the word or words that don't apply. 1. On which date(s) were/are bonfires lighted? 2. Were/are bonfires lighted informally by groups of people? YES/NO Or does/did each Lodge organise a single bonfire for the district? YES/NO 3. At what time during the day or night was/is the bonfire lighted? About 4. Was/is the bonfire set alight by any special person? YES/NO If so, who was this? 5. Where were/are bonfires situated (e.g. beside the Orange Hall, at a crossroads or road junction, in a field, in people's farmyards or in the street, etc.)? 6. Was/is the bonfire built in any special shape? Describe its shape? 7. Which materials were/are used for burning? 8. Was/is any effigy or figure burned on the bonfire? YES/NO If your answer is YES, please give details of how the figure is made, what it looks like, and who it represents. 9. Did/do many people attend the bonfire (e.g. many, few, members of the local Lodge only, people generally, Protestants only)? 10. Were/are any special activities carried on around or near the bonfire? If so, give details (e.g. singing, dancing, etc.) 11. If bonfires are no longer lighted by Orangemen in your district on the date(s) mentioned, when (approximately) were they last lighted? 12. Why were/are bonfires lighted by Orangemen? What reason(s) would people give locally for lighting them?
