History Main / BreakupBonfire

* In the ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10473209/1/Promised-to-Me Promised to Me]]'', this happens ''twice'', on both parts of the HoYay relationship of Russia and America...which is probably PlayedForDrama / RuleOfDrama ... and Tear Jerker territory:

* {{Exaggerated}} in the video for Music/PoetsOfTheFall's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di7NMssrqsE Daze]]," where [[TragicMistake Hamartia]] the MonsterClown reacts to a female attendee leaving his MasqueradeBall like a villain scorned, setting fire to her car, with her in it, ''and'' the ball as a whole.

[[folder: Theatre]]
* ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'' After learning of her husband's affair, Eliza sings an entire ballad as she burns Alexander's letters in the form of "Burn".

* ''Hamilton'' After learning of her husband's affair, Eliza sings an entire ballad as she burns Alexander's letters in the form of Burn.

The Break-Up Bonfire is usually ceremonial and perhaps even a little spiritual. As fire is a symbol of both destruction and rebirth, a break up bonfire typically represents a character breaking old bonds and starting anew. However, note the [[TheUnfairSex Unfair Sex]] nature of this trope. A woman doing this is usually celebrating her freedom from an oppressive male. A man doing this usually ''is'' the oppressive male, and a spiteful destructive bastard at that. As such, most examples below are from female characters burning her ex's things.

** Over 7 decades after the ''de facto'' breakup, America had stashed all the memorabilia in his storage closet, [[spoiler: until his Boss ordered agents to burn ''all'' of it from before the breakup]]. [[spoiler: He ''did'' manage to save a metal box of of photos and letters, which he eventually sent back to Russia.]]

** Over 7 decades after the ''de facto'' breakup, America had stashed all the memorabilia in his storage closet, [[spoiler: until his Boss ordered agents to burn ''all'' it all from before the breakup]]. [[spoiler: He ''did'' manage to save a metal box of of photos and letters, which he eventually sent back to Russia.]]

** Over 7 decades after the ''de facto'' breakup, America had stashed all the memorabilia in his storage closet, [[spoiler: until his Boss ordered agents to burn ''all'' it all from before the breakup]]. [[spoiler: He ''did'' manage to save a metal box of of photos and letters, which he eventually sent back to Russia.

* In the ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10473209/1/Promised-to-Me Promised to Me]]'',

* Implied in ''VideoGame/SlyCooperThievesInTime''. [[spoiler:The cutscene that plays after the WhamEpisode shows Bentley looking at his photo of Penelope in heartbreak[[note]]he later [[MustashVandalism vandalizes]] it after their break-up to signal his newfound hatred of her[[/note]], while [[EvilAllAlong Penelope]] just casually tosses her photo of Bentley into a fire, signaling that she doesn't truly care about his feelings]].

-->"So I pulled your name out of my roller desk\\

And I burned down the malt shop where we used to go\\

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer:'' in the season 4 episode "The Initiative," Xander comes across Harmony as she's building a bonfire of Spike's stuff. Cordelia cuts up Xander's stuff and burns his picture in "The Wish".

* [[Hamilton]] After learning of her husband's affair, Eliza sings an entire ballad as she burns Alexander's letters in the form of Burn.

-->"So I took your name out of my roller desk\\

Breaking up is hard to do. It’s bad enough that your significant other is out of your life, but did they really have to leave all that stuff behind? Whether it’s things they gave you or things that remind you of them, they’ve got to go. So grab some matches, it’s time for a break up bonfire!

The breakup bonfire is usually ceremonial and perhaps even a little spiritual. As fire is a symbol of both destruction and rebirth, a break up bonfire typically represents a character breaking old bonds and starting anew. However, note the [[TheUnfairSex Unfair Sex]] nature of this trope. A woman doing this is usually celebrating her freedom from an oppressive male. A man doing this usually ''is'' the oppressive male, and a spiteful destructive bastard at that. As such, most examples below are from female characters burning her ex's things.

* ''Series/TheBoldAndTheBeautiful'''s Bridget does this after finding out that her husband Deacon has been sleeping with her mother and gotten her pregnant. She takes particular glee in throwing his ashtrays into the mix--"Kissing you was like licking one of these! I HATED it!"

* If fans are unsatisfied with a series they're following (especially a story's plot turns or a {{shipping}} decision]], they will probably burn their merch to show their disagreement. If they're especially rude or crazy, they'll ''send the author/s pictures or videos'' too.

* If fans are unsatisfied with a series they're following (specially a story's plot turns or a {{shipping}} decision]], they will probably burn their merch to show their disagreement. If they're specially rude or crazy, they'll ''send the author/s pictures or videos'' too.