posted 12-26-2003 09:11 AM         

Here's my original post: http://www.prowleronline.com/ubb/Forum8/HTML/003882.html

Checkout more pics in the scrapbook: Http://www.prowleronline.com/scrapbook/neweventview.php?id=368

Here's some pics from Christmas eve...

One of the Bonfires in Gramercy with the firecrackers to help ignite the logs...

We have fire...

A good fire ...

Looking up river ...

Another ignition. Used firecrackers as a fuse popping and working there way up the levee to base of Bonfire...

Fire working it's way up Bonfire...

A good fire on the right...

Here's a story from the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate (Friday, Dec. 26th) on the tradition from one of my cousin's (Scrap Hymel) house... Just down the street from my sister's place...

Bonfires brighten tradition

By SAMUEL R. IRWIN
Special to The Advocate

GRAMERCY -- Papa Noel, the south Louisiana version of Santa Claus, had no trouble Christmas Eve driving his sleigh to the homes of deserving children in St. James Parish, thanks to the guiding lights of the 100 blazing bonfires atop the Mississippi River levee.
The holiday bonfire tradition, which has been celebrated in the river towns of Gramercy, Lutcher and Paulina for more than 100 years, went off as planned Wednesday night with Mayor Terry Borne describing the weather conditions as "perfect."
Since Thanksgiving, parish residents searched for scrub willow trees to use in assembling the wooden pyres. Most built their bonfire structures in a four-sided pyramid structure, but a wooden log facsimile of a Louisiana shrimp boat, complete with booms and netting, burned just as well as the others.
As the sun descended below the horizon, children waiting for the fires to begin tumbled and skidded down the 30-foot levee embankment on makeshift cardboard sleds. Officials estimated more than 40,000 visitors cruised the ancient River Road looking for the perfect vantage spot to view the spectacle.
The fire chiefs of the neighboring towns of Lutcher and Gramercy earlier in the day had decided to light the fires, since only a slight wind was blowing in from the north. At 7 p.m., the pyres were set afire.
The bonfire in front of the Scrap and Denny Hymel home in Gramercy was started by Ashton Torres, 12, the son of one of the pyre's builders. Equipped with a burning railroad flare, Ashton lit a 20-foot strand of firecrackers that set off a noisy chain reaction that culminated in the ignition of the pyramid.
Five minutes elapsed before all of the bright red packs of firecrackers, hanging on the bonfire structure like Christmas tree ornaments, finished exploding. The gathered throng cheered with delight.
The Hymels have invited bonfire visitors into their home for 30 years, and their guest book shows signatures from around the nation and the world. Guests have come from as far as England and Hawaii.
"My 10 brothers and sisters helped prepare the food, so that makes it easier to do," Denny Hymel said. "But my husband has four brothers and they all have open houses right next door to us. It's a big family celebration."
Scraps Hymel's earliest memories of the Christmas bonfires date back to 1945, long before any industrial plants located along the big river in St. James Parish. But the sugar cane farmer said he still enjoys the bonfires and the pandemonium of the open house.
"I don't see how we can get out of it," Scraps Hymel said with a laugh. "We're just grateful to see all the people having such a good time."
Simoneaux was a guest of the Hymels for the evening.
"I've been coming here seven years straight," Simoneaux said. "These people are wonderful. They are like family. They are some good Cajuns."

To read the entire Advocate story click here:

Click here to return to story: http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/122603/new_bfirs001.shtml

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