Altrincham Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Altrincham poster

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

What should you know about Altrincham's bonfire night?

The Bonfire Night is one of those incredible festivities and celebrations that have been adopted as an annual event over the years.

Why do people enjoy 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 tried to assassinate King James I is that it is a way to celebrate the failure of the event.

The Bonfire Night was celebrated in 1605 and people have been celebrating ever since.

There was a lot of anger against the king at that time, since he was seen as being against the Catholics.

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

They came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The plan was to kill the king during the process, because he was in attendance.

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

After learning about the plan, the other conspirators were taken into custody here.

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

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

We headed to the Bonfire Night.

There are lots of Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community-focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century due to the focus being on having fun.

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

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only things happening.

There are a lot of foods associated with this event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November as well.

Some families eat soups and share them with friends or other family members.

There are traditions associated with the night.

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

It is 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.

There is a firework display and a large bonfire at most of the time.

What should you wear for the Bonfire Night events?

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

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

With that being said, the Bonfire Night is a great opportunity for most people to show off their winter wardrobe.

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

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

Bonfire Night attractions

There are many attractions and events in the UK.

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

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

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

Here are some traditions:

  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade model of a man and then burn it. This effigy is meant to represent Guy Fawkes, and it’s usually made out of straw or paper, all of it stuffed within old clothes.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. This is a reference to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • Some of the largest firework displays can be found in the biggest cities in the country. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and firework displays all over the country.
  • The 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. There are kids that blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. People heat up soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. There are some people who cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on Bonfire Nights. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.

Bottom line

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a staple event, and continues every year.

It is a great time for people to come together 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 over the years it has shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

The most important part of Bonfire Night is happiness and a good time, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come.

Altrincham Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Altrincham, Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, WA14 2DW, United Kingdom

Organiser: Altrincham Bonfire Night