Burslem Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Burslem poster

Every year in Burslem, 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 Burslem's bonfire night?

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

Why do people love this event so much?

Here are a few things you can do to get up to speed with the Bonfire Night.

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

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.

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

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

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

The supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

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

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament after getting cold feet.

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

The Parliament made a public statement about the situation and 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 of lighting up bonfires.

We went to the Bonfire Night due to this.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed throughout the UK in locations like Staffordshire.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that it's origins are sinister.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to "Bonfire Night or the Fireworks Night" because the focus was on having fun.

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked similar to what we are currently experiencing.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

There are some amazing attractions in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with 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 get to enjoy 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:

  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper, stuffed with old clothes, and is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying 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 did when he was planning to blow up the Parliament.
  • During the Bonfire Night processions, flaming tar barrels are carried on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans of Guy Fawkes and his team to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The biggest cities in the country have some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays.
  • The bonfires are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. The crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup for them. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on the night of the bonfire. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are many things associated with this 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.

Some regions have their own special meals to be prepared around the 5th of November.

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

There are traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

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

What should you wear for the Bonfire Night events?

Depending on where you live, people tend to dress up in various costumes.

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

The Bonfire Night is a good time for people to show off their winter clothes.

A winter knit with a classical touch is 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.

At the end

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

It is a great time for people to come together and enjoy some great foods.

Over the years, it has impressed people and is one of those 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.

The most important part of Bonfire Night is happiness and a good time, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come.

Burslem Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Burslem Bonfire Night