Holy fireworks

The neighbours' little boys just called round. Earlier, I saw their mother in the street and gave her a card for Eid, picked from a selection in the supermarket, where the mid-aisle display and sign reminded me that it was nearly Eid, the Muslim festival that marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting and prayer. Eid is marked by a three-day eruption of joy and celebration that the time of self-denial is completed. The road has been busy with cars driving up and people jumping out and going into each others' houses and embracing in the street. The little boys came to our door to bring us a plateful of beautiful little Eid cakes and sweets, 'from our mum'.
Later there will be fireworks. The local shop sells Chinese fireworks, which are louder and more sudden than the other kind and, let off after midnight, wake any sleeping neighbours up with a start.
In our multicultural area, Eid marks the start of the firework season. There will be lots of sudden awakenings between now and mid-November. It's like living in a war zone. Leftover fireworks from Eid will be used up in the next few weeks, for anyone who has a birthday or any other reason for celebrating - or just to use up the fireworks left from Eid! Or because the kids are disappointed that the fireworks are finished and plead for just one more evening ...
Then November 5th is Bonfire Night, or Guy Fawkes night - at least, it's officially just one night but this year it falls on a Monday, so fireworks will probably start on the Friday evening and go on throughout the weekend, including some let off in daylight, which seems to miss the point a bit. Older people walking the dog or doing a bit of gardening tend to jump suddenly and clutch their hearts, as well as waking suddenly during the night thinking someone's been shot.
Then Monday night will be the loudest, and probably a few people will have missed Bonfire Night or gone to another party somewhere else, so some always have their fireworks a day or two after the actual event. And then there may be somebody's birthday the following week, or the kids plead for one just more firework night before having to wait a whole year before next time .....
Round our way, November 5th normally lasts a week or two, at least.
Then there's Diwali.
The date of Diwali, the Festival of Lights celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, changes each year. This year it falls on November 9th .... only Diwali lasts not just one day but three. The high street will be impassable to cars as processions go up and down, and after dark there will be ... yes, you guessed it ... fireworks. For three nights.
And then some.
So there won't be much sleep for the foreseeable future. But lots of joy, lots of visiting, celebrating, eating special cakes and hot dogs, lighting candles and bonfires, frightening the local cats, dogs and foxes, and exchanging gifts and greetings.
The Hindus may not be quite sure what the Muslims are celebrating or why, and the Muslims don't really relate to Hindu beliefs, and the Christians from our church and the local councillors and civic-minded people try to be well-informed about both Diwali and Eid but probably get it all wrong.
And nobody quite knows why we secular Brits are celebrating November 5th. You try explaining Guy Fawkes to Muslims and Hindus. Or actually, to Christians.
I think the children have the right perspective: they aren't always quite sure of the reason for their own culture's celebrations, let alone each other's. But while there's fireworks and parties and food, who cares why? Aren't they enough reason in themselves for being happy?
So we'll eat our neighbours' little cakes for Eid, and at Christmas our Muslim and Hindu neighbours will give us cards and wish us Happy Christmas in the street and come in and pretend politely to like mince pies.
And all of that has to be a reason for celebrating, doesn't it?