The Night of the Ancient Bonfires - Culture for the benefit of the environment

The Ancient Bonfire is lit in the heart of Turku

The Culture Capital Turku hopes that the inhabitants along the Finnish coasts as well as the Baltic Sea coast at large will give their personal or communal eco-promises to the benefit of the Baltic Sea as the traditional bonfires are lit by the water. In Turku, the ancient bonfire is lit from the Theatre Bridge at 9:30 pm 27.8.2011.

This year, the ancient fires will be introduced to Turku city centre for the first time. The bonfire floating in the River Aura will be lit on 27 August at 9:30 pm from the Theatre Bridge. After this, the bonfire will be transported along the river toward the sea. The same time, an old-fashioned beacon near the Swan of Finland will be lit, along with the twelve other small beacons stemming from the Crimean War out in the Turku archipelago.

During the last weekend of August, Turku will fulfil the promise by uniting people around the Baltic Sea in celebration of the Night of the Ancient Bonfires. It will be an occasion to say your good-byes to the summer, to thank the sea for calm waters and winds as well as to make promises for the well-being of the sea. The eco-promise could mean anything from cutting down on your personal fresh-water consumption to building artificial wetlands in the drainage area of agricultural land.

“We have made an effort to communicate this novel, responsible, yet cheerful way to celebrate the Night of the Ancient Bonfires to other countries surrounding the Baltic Sea that are not familiar with the tradition. Our own promise is that we will ensure the continuation of this work also in future years,” says Cay Sevón.

Post your own bonfire on the map and give your promise on the following webpage (in the beginning of August): www.ancientlightsnight.fi