Birches Head Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Birches Head poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Birches Head?

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

But what does it mean to people and why do they love them so much?

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

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

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.

The Bonfire Night was celebrated in 1605 and has been celebrated ever since.

What happened at that time is that there was a lot of anger against the king, since many considered he was intolerant against the Catholics.

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

They came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The plan was to kill the king during the process, because he was in attendance.

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

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

The Parliament shared that the conspirators had been caught and punished.

The Parliament decided to make the 5th of November a day to be thankful for and hence the tradition to light bonfires.

Which eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

In locations like Staffordshire, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed.

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

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

The event looked similar as the 20th century progressed.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are many amazing attractions in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared by the community.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night has become a community-focused 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 traditions that are common:

  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food and are not just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people make soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some even cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, but also marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on the Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • 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 to blow up the Parliament building.
  • There are firework displays throughout the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. You can find bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • "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 a few days before the Bonfire Night. 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.
  • An effigy, a homemade model of a man, is very common in the UK. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothing.

There are traditions associated with the evening of bonfires.

People 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.

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

What should you wear at the event?

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

This approach is in preparation for the events.

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

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually 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 during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are a lot of foods associated with the event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee and the toffee apples are some of the things that are associated with the Bonfire Night.

These are eaten all over the country, and some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November as well.

Some families share soups with friends or other family members, which is important to note.

Summing up

Every year, Bonfire Night continues as a staple event.

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

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

Even if the origins of the event are a bit darker, there is no denying that the event has evolved into a more community-friendly event over the years.

The most important parts of Bonfire Night are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this event to go on for many years to come.

Birches Head Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Birches Head Academy, Birches Head Road, Sneyd Green, Stoke-on-Trent, England, ST2 8DD, United Kingdom

Organiser: Birches Head Bonfire Night