Aston Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Aston poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Aston?

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event for a long time.

Why do people love these celebrations?

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

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 trying to blow up the parliament.

Since 1605 people have celebrated Bonfire Night.

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

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

The people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The king was present, so the plan was to kill him.

A member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament, but got cold feet.

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

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

The 5th of November was chosen by the Parliament to be a day to be thankful for.

We went to the Bonfire Night because of that.

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

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

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

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

Traditions related to the night of bonfires.

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, but in a safe way.

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

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

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

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

These are some traditions that are common:

  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade effigy of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of straws or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The tradition called "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting one. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street to ask for money for fireworks a few days before the Bonfire Night. In some regions, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was planning to blow up the Parliament.
  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest displays for firework displays. There are bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The bonfires are not just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. Many people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, and also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake called the parking cake that is eaten on Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle in this cake.
  • During the Bonfire Night processions, flaming tar barrels are carried on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the Parliament building.

What are you going to wear for the event?

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

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

The Bonfire Night is a great place for 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.

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

Which foods are popular during the night?

The celebration with bonfires and fireworks is not the only thing happening.

There are a lot of foods associated with this event.

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

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

It’s also important to note that some families eat soups too, and they share it with friends or other family members.

At the end

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

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

Over the years, it has been one of the most impressive events.

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

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

Aston Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Aston, High Peak, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Aston Bonfire Night