Bonfires

A vigorous fire of well-seasoned faggots is an important accessory in dispelling witches from a neighbourhood plagued by these creatures. Ideally, the fire should be built on the highest hill in the district, and carefully arranged so that the kindling will ignite immediately and set the faggots ablaze without delay.

Certain nights in the year, such as Midsummer Night or Hallowe'en, are preferable for bonfire lightning. When all is ready, the entire population of a village should assemble around the tower of faggots. One of them lights the kindling, and when the flames rise high enough for each person to see his neighbour's face the villagers join hands and dance around the bonfire, chanting 'Burn, witch, burn!' until the fire dies down to ashes.

There ceremony is so effective that it is most uncommon for the cottage of a known witch to burst into flames while the villagers are dancing around the bonfire. Even if this does not happen, the cleansing power of the flames will burn away a witch's potential for evil and cause her to flee the neighbourhood.

Probably the best time for a bonfire (which of course means 'good fire' and signifies its ability to burn away evil) is after dark on May Day.