Belmont Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Belmont poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Belmont?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has become an annual event because of it's incredible festivities.

Why do people love these events so much?

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

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is because he wanted to blow up the parliament.

The Bonfire Night was celebrated in 1605 and people have been celebrating ever since.

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

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

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

The plan was to kill the king when he was in attendance.

The member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament.

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

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

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

We eventually ended up at the Bonfire Night.

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

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community-focused event despite its origins being sinister.

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

The event of the 20th century looked very similar to what we are seeing today.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only celebrations of the night.

There are a lot of things 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.

These are eaten throughout the country, and some regions have their own special meals prepared for the 5th of November.

Some families eat soup and share it with friends or other family members.

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

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

This is in preparation for the events.

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

Something to keep in mind is that a winter knit with a classical touch is often the right way to go here.

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

There are traditions associated with Bonfire Night.

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

It is clear that this is a 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 manner.

Most of the time, there is a large bonfire and a firework display.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

The UK has a lot of amazing attractions and events.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires and local events with food and drinks being 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 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.

There are some traditions that are common:

  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money for the fireworks. 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.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade effigy of a man and burn it. All of the effigy is stuffed within old clothes and made out of straw or paper.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, which is why they are not just a symbol of the failed complot. Many people heat up soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows and sausages. The parking cake is a traditional dessert people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in order to blow up the Parliament building.
  • Some of the largest fireworks displays can be found in the biggest cities in the country. Even in rural areas, you will find bonfires and incredible firework displays.

At the end

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

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

It is one of the 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's 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 years and years to come.

Belmont Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Belmont, County Durham, North East, England, DH1 2QW, United Kingdom

Organiser: Belmont Bonfire Night