Bishop Auckland Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Bishop Auckland poster

Every year in Bishop Auckland, 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 Bishop Auckland's bonfire night?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has become an annual event, one of those incredible festivities and celebrations.

But what is it that makes people love these celebrations so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity with a quick overview.

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I and also tried to blow up the parliament in order to celebrate the failure of his plan.

In 1605 people celebrated the Bonfire Night.

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

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

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

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

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament but ended up cold feet.

The other conspirators were taken into custody after learning about the plan.

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

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November because it is a day to be thankful for.

We made our way to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities throughout the UK.

The origins of Bonfire Night are sinister, but over the years it has become a community event.

The celebration was renamed to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century due to the focus on having fun.

The event of the 20th century looked more and more like what we are seeing today.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

As we mentioned earlier, the Bonfire Night events are not only a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are lots of foods associated with the event.

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

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

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

What are you going to wear to the events?

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

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

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

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

It is not necessary to dress up in a costume to protect yourself against the cold weather.

Traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they attempted to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe way.

Most of the time, these Bonfire Night events are culminating with a firework display and a very large bonfire.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are some great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly 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.

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 Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a bird. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothes to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • Some of the largest firework displays can be found in the biggest cities. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find amazing firework displays and bonfires.
  • The bonfires are not just a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people make soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. Some cooks wrap potatoes in a foil and cook them with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of the bonfire. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • 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 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.

In the end

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

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

It has impressed people over the years.

Even if the origins of this 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 continue for a long time.

Bishop Auckland Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Bishop Auckland, County Durham, North East, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Bishop Auckland Bonfire Night