Alfreton Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Alfreton poster

Every year in Alfreton, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, with fireworks lighting up the skies across the county of Derbyshire.

What should you know about Alfreton's bonfire night?

Over the years the Bonfire Night has been an annual event.

What is it that makes people love these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity here.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is that he was celebrating the failure of the parliament.

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating bonfires ever since.

There was a lot of anger against the king, due to the fact that he was against the Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were both Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to bring Catholicism back to it's rightful place.

The two supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

The plan was to kill the king when he was in attendance.

A conspiracy member was cold feet and sent a letter to the parliament.

The other conspirators were taken into custody after learning about the plan.

The Parliament made a public statement regarding the situation and shared that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November in honor of being thankful for it.

Which led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities all over the UK.

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

The firework manufacturers rebranded the celebration at the beginning of the 20th century because it was focused on having fun.

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

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

You will find many amazing attractions and events in the UK.

Large bonfires and local events, food and drinks are shared with the community in the countryside regions.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night has become a community-focused event where everyone has a good time, and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

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

There are some traditions that are common:

  • The bonfires are also used to cook all kinds of food, which is why they are not just a symbol of the failed complot. People heat up soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, as well as marshmallows and sausages. The traditional parking cake is eaten on the Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. 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 regions you can even find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • The biggest cities in the country get the largest firework displays. You can find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a bird. The effigy is usually made out of straws or paper and stuffed with old clothes.

The traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

People parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks, and sparklers during 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, but in a safe way.

The majority of the time, there is a firework display and a large bonfire.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are plenty of foods associated with this event as well.

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

These are eaten throughout the country, and some regions even have their own special meals to prepare around the 5th of November.

Some families eat soup and share it with friends or family members.

What are you going to wear for the event?

Depending on where you live, people tend to dress up in a variety of costumes.

This approach is quite interesting, and it is being prepared for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great opportunity for most people to show off their winter clothes.

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

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome, because you don't have to dress up in a costume.

Bottom line

Over time, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

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

Over the years, it has been one of those events that people have been impressed with.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that over the years it has become a more community-friendly event.

The most important parts of Bonfire Night are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come!

Alfreton Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Alfreton CP, Amber Valley, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Alfreton Bonfire Night