Bewdley Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Bewdley poster

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

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

The Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event over the years.

Why do people enjoy these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the popularity of the Bonfire Night in a few minutes.

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

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

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating bonfires ever since.

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

At that time, Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics with the vision that only an armed struggle would reinstate Catholicism to the rightful place.

The two people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

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

A conspiracy member got cold feet and sent a letter to the parliament.

After learning about the plan, the other conspirators were taken into custody here.

The Parliament made a public statement regarding the situation, shared the fact 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.

We decided to go to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK nowadays.

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 it was focused on having fun.

The event looked similar to what we are experiencing today as the 20th century progressed.

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

There are some amazing attractions in the UK.

Smaller events also take place in countryside regions too, although here you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community.

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

Common traditions are here:

  • The bonfires are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people make soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. Some cooks cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it’s very tasty.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a homemade model of a man and then burn it. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw, stuffed with old clothes, and is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • 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 to blow up the parliament building.
  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. Even in rural areas you are bound to find bonfires and firework displays.
  • The "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to get some money for the fireworks. In some areas you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.

What should you wear for the Bonfire Night events?

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

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

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

A winter knit with a classical touch is the right way to go here, and something to keep in mind.

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

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Nights?

The Bonfire Night events are not only a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

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.

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

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

Traditions related to 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.

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

Summing up

Every year, Bonfire Night continues as a staple event.

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

It is one of those events that have impressed people in the past.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there’s no denying that over the years Bonfire Night shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

We can expect this event to continue for years and years to come because happiness and a good time are the most important parts.

Bewdley Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Bewdley, Wyre Forest, Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Bewdley Bonfire Night