Burnham on Sea Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Burnham on Sea poster

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

What should you know about Burnham on Sea's bonfire night?

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

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 with this quick rundown.

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.

This happened in 1605 and people have celebrated bonfires ever since.

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

There was a vision that only an armed struggle would restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

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

The plan was to assassinate the king while he was in attendance.

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

The conspirators who were involved in the plan were taken into custody here after they learned about it.

The Parliament shared with the public that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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

We went to the Bonfire Night after that.

There are Bonfire Night activities in many places in the UK.

Over the years it has become a community-focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister.

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

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

Traditions associated with the night.

People wear costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers at 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 Bonfire Night events end with a firework display and a large bonfire.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are many attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires and local events, food and drinks 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 be able to see some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

There are some traditions that are common:

  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is very interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for fireworks a few days before Bonfire Night. In some regions, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even though they are just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. Many people heat up soup for the crowds 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 is eaten on the Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade effigy of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of straws or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the biggest displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find incredible firework displays.

What are you going to wear for the event?

Depending on where you live, people tend to dress up in a variety of costumes.

This approach is quite interesting and is being prepared for the events.

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

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

If you want to protect yourself against the cold weather, a proper outfit is more than welcome.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Nights?

The Bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration.

There are many foods associated with the event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee and toffee apples are all 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 as well.

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

In the end

Every year, Bonfire Night is a staple event.

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

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

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

The most important parts of the event are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this to continue for many years to come.

Burnham on Sea Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Burnham-on-Sea, Sedgemoor, Somerset, England, TA8 1BQ, United Kingdom

Organiser: Burnham on Sea Bonfire Night