Calcot Bonfire Night 2022

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

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

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

Why do people love these festivities?

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

What is the tradition of the Bonfire Night?

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.

The Bonfire Night was celebrated in 1605 and has been celebrated ever since.

What happened at that time is that there was a lot of anger against the king, since many considered he was intolerant against the Catholics.

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

These two and other supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

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

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

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

The Parliament made a statement and shared that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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

We ended up going to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays there are Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

Over the years, Bonfire Night 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 because of the focus on having fun.

The event of the 20th century looked similar to what we are seeing today.

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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 the toffee apples are some of the things associated with the Bonfire Night.

These are eaten all over the country, and some regions have their own special meals prepared for 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 evening of bonfires.

People wear 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, a celebration of independence, but in a safe way.

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

What should you wear?

The interesting thing to note about Bonfire Night is that people tend to dress up in various costumes, depending on where they live.

It is quite interesting that this is in preparation for the events.

With that being said, the Bonfire Night is a great opportunity for most people to show off their winter wardrobe.

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 against cold weather is more than welcome.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

You are going to find a lot of amazing things to do in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually 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-focused event, where everyone has a great time, and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You can also enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

Common traditions are here:

• It is common for people in the UK to make a model of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw, and stuffed with old clothes.
• The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for fireworks a few days before the 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 planning to blow up the Parliament.
• The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even if they are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people heat up soup for the people watching the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. There is a traditional cake called the parking cake that is eaten on Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake, and it is very tasty.
• The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the Parliament building.
• The biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays.

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night continues and has become a staple event.

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

It is one of those events that have impressed people in the past.

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

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

Calcot Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Calcot, Tilehurst, West Berkshire, England, RG31 4RB, United Kingdom

Organiser: Calcot Bonfire Night