While some efforts have been made to make Eleventh night bonfires more family-oriented and environmentally-friendly events, unfortunately there are some parts of Northern Ireland resistant to change.
As a result we regularly see bonfires that contain toxic tyres or tower over houses, posing a clear danger and causing problems for a range of public bodies, including the Fire Service.
This is bad enough but we are also frequently faced with massive pyres in loyalist areas bedecked with Irish tricolours, effigies of politicians among others and insulting slogans.
Such offensive and aggressive displays should have no place in any cultural celebration but all too often these issues are highlighted and nothing happens.
However, in what is believed to be the first case of its kind in the north, a teenager has been successfully prosecuted over a racist slogan which appeared on a bonfire on the Ballycraigy estate in Antrim in July, 2014.
Colin White (19) from Farmhill on the estate, did not deny being present at the bonfire but denied displaying written material ``which was threatening, abusive or insulting, intending thereby to stir up hatred or arouse fear.''
White, who has learning difficulties, will be sentenced next month but by any standards this conviction marks a significant development in terms of how the courts view offensive material placed on bonfires.
While some areas have tried to move away from such displays - often with the help of public funds it has to be said - there are diehards who are determined to send out their own uncompromising message.
What this prosecution is telling them is that putting up threatening, abusive or hate-filled material will not be tolerated.
Hopefully, the threat of legal action and possibly jail will finally eradicate these offensive and intimidatory displays.
