Burn, baby, burn!

While most towns have their fireworks on the 5th of November, Rye waits another week. But that’s not because Rye was late to the game. In fact, historians believe the bonfire tradition in Sussex well pre-dates the 1605 attempted coup by Catholic conspirator Guy Fawkes. Some suspect it may have its roots back in the pagan winter festival of samhain. A friendly local bonfire society representative claimed it dated back to the Hundred Years' War, when the citizens of Rye burned their boats rather than allow the rapidly advancing French to seize them. (Because, that's right, Rye's Bonfire Night ends in the burning of an effigy atop a massive stack of furniture and building materials including a boat.) Whatever the origins may be, today, dozens of bonfire societies across Sussex prepare throughout the year for the night that the population of this town swells to easily double its normal population of 9000. Each society prepares its costumes, equips itself with medieval-style torches and a possible assortment of instruments and/or explosives, and parades across the village before convening in a field to light the pyre. Each year, an effigy is burned atop the fire. You can imagine my delight to discover that this year's theme was "Melt Down," featuring side-by-side likenesses of Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un. I'd like to note that the Donald's face melted off well before Little Rocket Man was devoured by flames.

Burning it all down: Rye Bonfire Night

The event is unlike anything Stateside, especially when we found ourselves asking if fires could give sunburns as we roasted in front of the pyre, despite being safely behind what the locals had determined to be the "safe distance." This town definitely takes their Throwback Thursday to another level. (Okay, okay, on a Saturday.) I loved it.