Broadstone Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Broadstone poster

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

What should you know about Broadstone's bonfire night?

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event over the years and is one of those incredible festivities.

Why do people love these festivities so much, what does it mean?

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 he was celebrating the failure of the parliament.

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

There was a lot of anger against the king since he was seen as being against the Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to return Catholicism to the rightful place.

Two people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

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

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

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

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

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

We went to the Bonfire Night because of this.

In the UK, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed all over the place.

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

The celebration was renamed to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century due to the fact that it was focused on having fun.

The event of the 20th century looked more and more similar to what we are experiencing today.

Traditions related to the Bonfire Night.

People wear costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers at Bonfire Night.

This is obviously a clear 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 firework display followed by a large bonfire.

Bonfire Night attractions

You are going to find a lot of great attractions and events 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 good 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 pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

There are some traditions that are common:

  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. The plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building are a nod to this.
  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". A few days before the Bonfire Night, kids used to take the homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to ask for some money for the fireworks. In some regions you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was planning to blow up the Parliament.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper.
  • Some of the largest firework displays are in the biggest cities in the country. Even in rural areas you are bound to find firework displays and bonfires.
  • The bonfires are not meant to be just a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of bonfires. There is a cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.

What should you wear to the event?

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

This approach is in preparation for the events.

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

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

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

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are many foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee and other items are associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

Some families share their soups with friends and other family members.

In the end

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a yearly event.

It's a great time for people to celebrate and eat amazing foods.

Over the years, it has been one of those events that impressed people.

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.

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.

Broadstone Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Broadstone, Trellech United, Catbrook, Monmouthshire, Cymru / Wales, NP16 6PY, United Kingdom

Organiser: Broadstone Bonfire Night