In
Northern Ireland, the
Eleventh Night or
11th Night refers to the night before the
Twelfth of July, a yearly
Ulster Protestant celebration. On this night, large towering
bonfires are lit in many Protestant/
loyalist neighbourhoods in Northern Ireland and are often accompanied by street parties. The bonfires are mostly made up of wooden
pallets and
tires, with some reaching over 100 ft tall. The event has been condemned for displays of
sectarian or
ethnic hatred, anti-social behaviour, and for the damage and pollution caused by the fires. The
flag of Ireland,
Irish nationalist (including
republican) symbols, Catholic symbols, and
effigies, are burnt on many bonfires. There have been attempts to make the event more family-friendly and environmentally-friendly. It is also known as "bonfire night", in common with
other events in which bonfires are lit.