Colwyn Bay Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Colwyn Bay poster

Every year in Colwyn Bay, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, with fireworks lighting up the skies across the county of Conwy.

What should you know about Colwyn Bay's bonfire night?

An annual event over the years, the Bonfire Night is one of those incredible festivities and celebrations.

Why do people love these festivities so much, what does it mean?

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

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

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

People have been celebrating the Bonfire Night since 1605.

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

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

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

The king was in attendance, so the plan was to kill him.

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

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

The Parliament made a public statement regarding the situation, shared the fact that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November as a way to be thankful.

Which lead us to the Bonfire Night.

There are lots of Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister.

The celebration was renamed to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century due to the focus being on having fun.

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

What should you wear for the Bonfire Night events?

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

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

The Bonfire Night is a great time for people to show off their winter clothing.

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

A proper outfit that protects you from the cold weather is more than welcome, even if you don't have to dress up.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires, food and drinks shared with the community and smaller events.

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 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.

Common traditions are here:

  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a model of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made from paper or straw and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is very interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money for the fireworks. Kids blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • It is a tradition 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 effort to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays. You are bound to find firework displays and bonfires all over the country.
  • The bonfires are meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. Many people heat up soup for the crowds coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows and sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of the bonfire. There is a cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Nights?

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

There are a lot of foods associated with the event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are commonly associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

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

The Bonfire Night has traditions associated with it.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers when they parade in costumes during 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.

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

Conclusion

Over time, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

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

Over the years, it's one of those events that has impressed people.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it became 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.

Colwyn Bay Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Colwyn Bay, Conwy, Cymru / Wales, LL29 8GA, United Kingdom

Organiser: Colwyn Bay Bonfire Night