Burton Upon Trent Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Burton Upon Trent poster

Every year in Burton Upon Trent, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Staffordshire we gather around the bonfire.

What information is important to know about Burton Upon Trent's Bonfire Night?

The annual event that has been adopted as an annual event is the Bonfire Night.

Why do people love this event so much?

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, which is why Bonfire Night is celebrated in the UK.

This happened in 1605 and has been celebrated ever since.

There was a lot of anger towards 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.

Two people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Commons.

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

However, a conspiracy member got cold feet and sent a letter to the parliament.

The other conspirators were taken into custody when they learned about the plan.

The Parliament shared the fact that the conspirators were caught and punished in a public statement.

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November in order to be thankful for it.

Which eventually lead us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

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 because the focus was on having fun.

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

Traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

Generally, Bonfire Night is a time when people parade in costumes and they also utilize flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers.

This is a clear nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe way.

Most of the time, the events of Bonfire Night include a firework display and a large bonfire.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

The UK has a lot of amazing attractions and events.

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 event where everyone has a good time, and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You will also 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:

  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even though they are only meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. People heat up soup for the crowds that come 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 people eat on Bonfire Night. A cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle is very delicious.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the parliament building.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting one. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for the fireworks. In some regions you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was planning to blow up the Parliament.
  • An effigy, a homemade model of a man, is very common in the UK. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothing.
  • Some of the largest firework displays are in the biggest cities in the country. Even in rural areas, you will find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country.

What should you wear at the event?

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

This approach is quite interesting and is in preparation for the events.

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

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

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

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Nights?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only thing happening during the night.

There are plenty of foods associated with this event as well.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas and treacle toffee are some of the things that are 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.

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

In the end

Every year, there is a staple event called Bonfire Night.

It is a great time for people to connect, celebrate and enjoy some amazing foods.

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

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there’s no denying that over the years Bonfire Night shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

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

Burton Upon Trent Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Burton-on-Trent, East Staffordshire, Staffordshire, England, DE14 1JN, United Kingdom

Organiser: Burton Upon Trent Bonfire Night