Bonfires are lit in many gardens in late autumn, when the leaves have fallen from trees and have dried out.

Bonfires like these are often made in a metal container called an incinerator. This is a stand made of wire mesh. The wire mesh makes sure that the fire is off the ground, and that a steady flow of air can reach all parts of the fire, helping to create as little smoke as possible.

Much bigger bonfires are connected with celebrations. For example, in New England, USA, bonfires are lit on the night before the 4th of July (Independence).

The country where bonfires are most related to a famous event is the UK, where bonfires are lit on Guy Fawkes Night. This marks the failure of the Gunpowder Plot of the 5th of November 1605, in which thirteen Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, attempted to blow up the Palace of Westminster where King James and Parliament were due to meet.

Another occasion when bonfires are often lit is on Halloween, October 31st.