Colney Heath Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Colney Heath poster

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

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

The Bonfire Night is one of those incredible festivities and celebrations that have been adopted as an annual event over the years.

What does it mean and why do people love these celebrations so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night by reading this quick list.

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I and also blow up the parliament in the UK.

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

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

Robert and Guy were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to return 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 member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament but ended up getting cold feet.

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

The Parliament shared the fact 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 to light bonfires.

Which, eventually, led us to the Bonfire Night.

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

Despite the fact that the origins of the event are sinister, it has become a community-focused event over the years.

The firework manufacturers decided to change the celebration's name to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century because of its focus on having fun.

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

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are some amazing attractions in the UK.

Large bonfires and local events, food and drinks are shared with the community in the countryside regions.

It's become a community-focused event for a lot of people because everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You will 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 common traditions:

  • Some of the biggest cities in the country get some of the largest fireworks displays. Even in rural areas you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays.
  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people heat up soup for people to watch the fireworks. Some cooks cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake called the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake, and it is very tasty.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in order to blow up the Parliament building.
  • In the UK it is very common for people to make a model of a man and burn it. The effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper.
  • There is a tradition called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street to ask for 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 preparing to blow up the Parliament.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

The Bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with bonfires.

There are many foods associated with the 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 as well.

Some families eat soup and share it with friends and family.

The Bonfire Night is associated with traditions.

People use flaming torches, fireworks, and sparklers during Bonfire Night.

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

The majority of the time, there is a firework display followed by a large bonfire.

What are you going to wear to the events?

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

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

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 often the right way to go here.

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

Conclusion

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

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

It has impressed many people over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it has become 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 event to continue for years and years to come.

Colney Heath Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Colney Heath, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Colney Heath Bonfire Night