Ashbourne Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Ashbourne poster

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

What information is important to know about Ashbourne's Bonfire Night?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has become an annual celebration.

Why do people like these festivities so much?

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

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I and also tried to blow up the parliament in order to celebrate the failure of his attempt.

In 1605 this happened and people have celebrated Bonfire Night ever since.

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

At that time, Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics with the vision that only an armed struggle would reinstate Catholicism to the rightful place.

The two and other supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The plan was to assassinate the king because he was in attendance.

However, a conspiracy member ended up getting cold feet and he sent a letter to the parliament.

The other conspirators were also taken into custody when they learned about the plan.

The Parliament made a statement about the situation and said that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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

We ended up at the Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

Despite the fact that the origins of the event are sinister, it has become a community event over the years.

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

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked similar to what we are experiencing today.

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

The interesting thing to note about Bonfire Night is that people tend to dress up in various costumes, depending on where they live.

In preparation for the events, this is quite an interesting approach.

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

Something to keep in mind is that a winter knit is usually 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 weather is more than welcome.

There are traditions associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

This is a clear nod to the failed attempt by Guy Fawkes and his band to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

The majority of the time, these Bonfire Night events include a firework display and a large bonfire.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

The UK has a lot of amazing attractions and events.

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.

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

You can also 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 biggest cities in the country have some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you can find bonfires and incredible firework displays.
  • The bonfires aren't just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people cook soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. Some cooks cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the eve of Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up Parliament.
  • Another interesting tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in a bid to get some money for the fireworks. In some parts of the world, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw, stuffed with old clothes, and is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

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

There are lots of foods associated with the 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 that they prepare around the 5th of November.

Some families share soups with friends or family members.

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night continues as a staple event.

It’s a great opportunity for people to reconnect, celebrate and also enjoy some amazing foods.

It is one of those events that have impressed people over the years.

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

The most important parts of the event are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this to continue for years and years to come.

Ashbourne Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Ashbourne CP, Derbyshire Dales, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Ashbourne Bonfire Night