Belah Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Belah poster

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

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

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

What does it mean to people and why do they love these celebrations so much?

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

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is that it is a way to celebrate the failure of the parliament.

This happened in 1605 and people have celebrated it ever since.

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

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

The supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Commons.

The plan was to assassinate the king, who was in attendance.

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

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

The Parliament made a statement 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 to light bonfires.

We were led to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed all over the UK

Despite the fact that Bonfire Night's origins are sinister, it has become a community focused event over the years.

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

The event of the 20th century looked a lot like what we are seeing today.

What should you wear to the events?

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

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

Most people like to show off their winter wardrobe during the Bonfire Night.

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 though 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 many foods associated with the event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee and 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, and these are eaten throughout the country.

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

There are 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 as a celebration of independence.

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

There are attractions during the night.

You will find a lot of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, as well as smaller events.

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

However, you will also get to 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:

  • "Penny for the guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try 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 did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • It is common for people in the UK to make an effigy of a man and burn it. This effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, it is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • During the Bonfire Night processions, flaming tar barrels are carried on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in order to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The bonfires are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are used to cook all kinds of food. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake called the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. There is a cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country have some of the largest firework displays. There are bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.

Bottom line

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 eat amazing foods.

Over the years, it has impressed people.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that over the years it has evolved into 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 many years to come.

Belah Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Belah, Carlisle, Cumbria, England, CA3 9TF, United Kingdom

Organiser: Belah Bonfire Night