Bodmin Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Bodmin poster

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

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

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

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 by reading this quick recap.

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 attempt.

In 1605 this happened and people have celebrated Bonfire Night ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since many thought he was against the Catholics.

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

A group of people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

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

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

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

The Parliament shared that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided that the 5th of November was a day to be thankful for and therefore the tradition to light up bonfires.

We were led to the Bonfire Night.

In the UK, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed throughout the year.

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

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

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked more and more like what we are seeing today.

What should you wear for the Bonfire Night events?

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

In preparation for the events, this is quite an interesting approach.

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

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

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 attractions for Bonfire Night.

You will find many amazing attractions and events in the UK.

Food and drinks are shared with the community at smaller events that take place in countryside regions.

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 get to see 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:

  • The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team made to blow up the Parliament building.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country host firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find incredible firework displays.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food and are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people cook soup for them. Some people cook potatoes in a foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that is eaten on the Bonfire Night. The cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • The tradition called "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting one. 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 tried to do when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. This effigy is made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes, it is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.

Which foods are popular during the night?

The bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with bonfires.

There are a lot of foods associated with this 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 to be prepared around the 5th of November as well.

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

The Bonfire Night is associated with traditions.

During Bonfire Night people use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers.

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 way.

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

At the end

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a staple event, and continues every year.

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

Over the years, it has been one of the most impressive events.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it shifted towards being 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 many years to come.

Bodmin Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Bodmin, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Bodmin Bonfire Night