Thousands of beacons will be lit around the world to commemorate The Queen's 60 year reign over the UK and as head of the Commonwealth. Here at Willowbrook we took part in the Jubilee beacon project in our own modest way, by lighting a beacon on the hill overlooking the lake...
Our Jubilee Beacon was one of the first lit tonight, being set ablaze at 6pm NZ Time.
Britain has a long history of beacon lighting spanning many
hundreds of years. It has celebrated Royal Weddings, Jubilees and Coronations
by lighting beacons on village greens, castle battlements, church towers,
farms, beaches, and mountain tops.
A beacon chain, once used as a
tool for communication, has now become a symbol of unity across towns, borders,
countries and continents and is often the central point of focus for any
outdoor gathering or celebration.
In 1897 beacons were lit
nationally to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee...
In 1977 and 2002
beacons were lit to celebrate The Queen's Silver and Golden Jubilees.
It is estimated that tonight around the world at least 5000 beacons will be lit to mark this important and historic moment in The Queen's
Reign.
Post Scriptum
The Queen lit the last Jubilee Beacon at the end of the concert. Then ensued the most amazing pyrotechnic display...
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I wonder if beacons are a Commonwealth-wide custom. I don't remember seeing them in Australia. Bonfires, yes, but that has a different historical source, most likely.
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