I don't know if you heard about the 'Eleventh Night' or 'The Twelfth'. But here in County Down, Northern Ireland, it's a big celebration. 11th night is the night before The Twelfth of July which is an Ulster Protestant celebration. It's the eve of the anniversary of the battle of the Boyne. Bonfires are been lit in the loyalist area.
As far as history goes, the lightning of bonfires follows the lightning of beacons at the high hills of County Down and Co Antrim to allow King William's warship to navigate Belfast lough in the evening.
I must say that this celebration is quite controversial so let me just show you what Eleventh Night looks like.
Tonight, large towering bonfires are lit. The bonfires are made of wooden pallets. Just like this.
That's what it looks like before they lit it at night. We come to see our friend who's brave enough to sort those pallets up. Look at the height and how massive it is!
And tonight, we came out half 10 and we went to 3 different places to see the bonfire. Every town and estate they have its own bonfire. People gathered around. Some are already drunk and most of us just watch the bonfire with our family and friends.
We are far but we can already see the fire. Look at those smoke!
First, stop West Winds. We came here late as they lit it up at 10 pm. Oh, I can tell you, we just get off the car and I can already feel the heat. You can be wet and will be dry here in seconds. You can cook a chicken and it will be well done. Or cremated, lol.
Look at the flames!
Look at the crowd. That's just a part of the crowd.
Next Stop..
Glen Estate.
This one is we are nearly on time as you can see the tower is still up.
That one scared me as we watch it knocked down and the debris starting to fall off and burn the grass around.
You can see that the firemen are present and put the fire out in the bank.
Then the last one that we've been to is at our very own town, Comber's bonfire.
Maybe you can't see but this place is full. Like, look at the people around the bonfire.
Now watch as it collapsed:
I wrote this as soon as I come home to share it with yous all. And got myself a souvenir.
It's time for me to go to bed, it's 2:30 in the morning already. Today is now 'The Twelfth'. And later we will go out to see the band. It will be parades all over the Counties.
We all enjoyed tonight.
Thank you for reading!
❤❤❤