Abergavenny Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Abergavenny poster

Every year in Abergavenny, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Monmouthshire we gather around the bonfire.

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Abergavenny?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has become an annual event, one of the incredible festivities and celebrations.

Why do people love these celebrations?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night in a few moments.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I while also attempting to blow up the parliament.

This happened in 1605 and has been celebrated ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king since he was seen as being anti-Catholic.

Robert and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

Some people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The plan was to assassinate the king, who was in attendance.

The conspiracy member got cold feet and sent a letter to the parliament.

The other conspirators were also taken into custody after they learned of the plan.

The Parliament shared the news that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November to be thankful for.

We eventually headed to the Bonfire Night.

There are many Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

The origins of the event are sinister, but over the years it has become a community focused event.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to "Bonfire Night" because it was focused on having fun.

The 20th century event looked a lot like what we are experiencing today.

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, although smaller events also take place.

It's become a community-focused event for a lot of people, where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You will also get to see some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

Here are some traditions that exist:

  • Another tradition is called "Penny for the guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money for fireworks, a few days before Bonfire Night. In some parts of the world, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • The bonfires are meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. People heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some even cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, but also marshmallows or sausages as well. There is a traditional cake called the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very tasty.
  • There are firework displays all over the country with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find firework displays and bonfires.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Nights. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in order to blow up the Parliament building.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a homemade model of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made from straw or paper and stuffed into old clothes.

What are you going to wear to the events?

Depending on where you live, people tend to dress up in different costumes during Bonfire Night.

This is in preparation for the events, and it is quite interesting.

The Bonfire Night is a great time for most people to show off their winter clothing.

Something to keep in mind is that a winter knit with a classical touch is the right way to go here.

You don't have to dress up in a costume, but a proper outfit that helps you protect yourself against the cold is more than welcome.

There are traditions associated with the night.

People in costumes use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers at Bonfire Night.

This is a clear nod to the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence.

Most of the time, these events end with a firework display and a big bonfire.

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The Bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with fireworks.

There are lots of things associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee are just some of the things that are associated with the Bonfire Night.

These are eaten all over the country, and some regions even have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November as well.

It is important to note that some families share their soups with friends and other family members.

In the end

Every year, Bonfire Night is a staple event.

It is a great time for people to celebrate and enjoy some amazing foods.

It has impressed many people over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

We can expect this event to continue for years and years to come because of the importance of happiness and a good time.

Abergavenny Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Cymru / Wales, NP7 5NQ, United Kingdom

Organiser: Abergavenny Bonfire Night