Alton Bonfire Night 2022

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

What should you know about Alton's bonfire night?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event.

Why do people like these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night with a quick recap.

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

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 in the UK.

In 1605 this happened, and people have celebrated the Bonfire Night 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 return Catholicism to its rightful place.

A group of people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The plan was to kill the king when he was there.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament, but ended up cold feet.

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

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

The Parliament decided to make the 5th of November a day to be thankful for, and therefore the tradition to light up bonfires.

We went to the Bonfire Night because of that.

Nowadays there are Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

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

The celebration was renamed to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century due to the fact that the focus was on having fun.

The event of the 20th century was more similar to what we are seeing today.

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with bonfires.

There are a lot of foods associated with the event.

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

These are eaten throughout the country, and some regions have their own special meals prepared for the 5th of November.

Some families share their soups with their friends or family members.

There are traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

People parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers on Bonfire Night

It's clear that this is a 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 manner.

Most of the time, there is a firework display and a large bonfire during Bonfire Night.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

You will find a lot of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires and local events with food and drinks being shared with the community.

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

You will be able to enjoy 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:

• The "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to the Bonfire Night to ask for money for the fireworks. 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 used to cook all kinds of food, even though they are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people heat up soup for people to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, as well as marshmallows and sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the eve of Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
• During the Bonfire Night processions there is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans of Guy Fawkes and his team to blow up the Parliament building.
• Some of the biggest cities in the country get some of the largest displays for firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find firework displays and bonfires.
• It’s very common for many people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothing.

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

Depending on where they live, people tend to dress up in various costumes on Bonfire Night.

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

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

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here and something to keep in mind.

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

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night continues and has become a staple event over the years.

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

Over the years it has impressed many people.

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

The most important parts of Bonfire Night are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this event to continue for a long time.

Alton Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Alton, East Hampshire, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Alton Bonfire Night