Beccles Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Beccles poster

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

What should you know about Beccles's bonfire night?

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

Why are people so fond of these festivities?

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

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.

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

There was a lot of anger towards the king due to the fact that he was against the Catholics.

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

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

The king was in attendance and the plan was to kill him.

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

Once they learned about the plan, Fawkes and Catesby as well as the other conspirators ended up being taken into custody here.

The Parliament 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 of lighting up bonfires.

After that, we went to the Bonfire Night.

In places like Suffolk, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed.

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

The focus is on having fun, which is why the celebration was rebranded at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to Bonfire Night or the Fireworks Night.

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked a lot like what we are seeing today.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

There are more than just bonfires and fireworks at the Bonfire Night events.

There are lots of foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee are just some 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.

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

There are many traditions associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe way.

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

What are you going to wear to the events?

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

It is quite interesting that this is in preparation for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great chance for most 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.

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

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of amazing attractions in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, but there are also smaller events.

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 fireworks for a night to remember.

Here are some traditions that exist:

  • The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the parliament building.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even though they are only meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on the night of the bonfire. This cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it’s very tasty.
  • 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 usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothing.
  • There are firework displays throughout the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. There are bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting one. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to the Bonfire Night to ask for money for 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.

Bottom line

Every year, Bonfire Night becomes a staple event.

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

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 has become 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.

Beccles Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Beccles, East Suffolk, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Beccles Bonfire Night