Fire is one of humanity’s oldest tools. It has been used to cook food, to create items like bowls and boats, and to illuminate our surroundings. Fire and people have such a primal connection that it is almost impossible to stay away from a campfire. The warm glow seems to beckon us to gather around in enjoyment.
Over the years, many friends have sent photos to me of their campfires. I have taken many campfire photos as well. The camera seems to provide a poor method of recreating and illustrating the magic of a live campfire. Even video really does not completely recreate the experience. It is impossible to truly convey the complete encounter, you have to be there.
Scientists have postulated that the act of cooking food over a fire and eating that cooked food had a significant impact on the advancement of the human brain. We will never really understand the synergy of the use of tools, the control of fire, and cooked food in our development as this all took place before the creation of an understandable writing method. Perhaps cave paintings and petroglyphs are an attempt to explain it, but we cannot yet translate those languages today.
A campfire can be a transcendent experience. The ritual of gathering, splitting, and stacking the necessary wood is a reminder that each task has an order to achieve a final outcome. Once prepared it is time to lay the fire with tinder and kindling, and have sustaining wood nearby. Finally we are ready to light the fire, which is the most difficult part. Sparks or flame is introduced to the tinder and the burning tinder is carefully nurtured with small, then progressively larger, kindling wood. Once the fire has been burning strongly for several minutes it is ready for the slow addition of sustaining wood. At that point you can sit back and begin to enjoy what has been built.
The glow of a campfire encourages both conversation and contemplation, depending on the moods of those present. Camaraderie seems to almost be an extension of the fire. The sharing of food and drink seems a natural part of the complete campfire experience. Perhaps we have not really come that far from our primeval ancestors.