Baglan Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Baglan poster

Every year in Baglan, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Neath Port Talbot we gather around the bonfire.

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Baglan?

The annual event that has been adopted as an annual event is the Bonfire Night.

Why do people enjoy these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night by following this quick rundown.

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, as well as blowing up the parliament.

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 racist against the Catholics.

Robert and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to bring Catholicism back to the rightful place.

Some people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The plan was to assassinate the king while he was there.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament.

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

The Parliament made a public statement regarding the situation, shared the fact 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 eventually ended up at the Bonfire Night.

In places like Neath Port Talbot, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed.

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

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to "Bonfire Night" because of the focus on having fun.

The event looked similar as the 20th century progressed.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

There are many attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires and local events with food and drinks 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 can also enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

There are some common traditions:

  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. There are bonfires and amazing firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade model of a man and burn it in effigy. The effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, which is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The bonfires are meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people make soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. The Parking Cake is a traditional cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is very interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and ask for money in order to buy fireworks. There are kids that blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his group had to blow up the Parliament building.

Traditions associated with the night of the bonfire.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers when they parade in costumes 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.

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

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are lots of foods associated with the event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November as well, and these are eaten throughout the country.

It is important to note that some families share soups with friends or family members.

What should you wear to the event?

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

It is quite an interesting approach to prepare for the events.

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

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 and you don't have to dress up in a costume.

At the end

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a yearly event.

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

Over the years, it's one of those events that has impressed people.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that over the years it became 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 a long time to come.

Baglan Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Baglan, Neath Port Talbot, Cymru / Wales, SA12 8TY, United Kingdom

Organiser: Baglan Bonfire Night