Cross Heath Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Cross Heath poster

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

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

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has been an annual event.

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

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night with a quick overview.

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

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

In 1605 this happened, and people have celebrated the night ever since.

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

There was a vision that only an armed struggle would restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

A group of supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

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

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

The other conspirators ended up being taken into custody after they learned about the plan.

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

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

We headed to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK nowadays.

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

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

The event of the 20th century looked more and more like what we are experiencing today.

What are you going to wear for the events?

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

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

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

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

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome, even though you don't have to dress up in a costume.

Bonfire Night attractions

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

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events with food and drinks shared with 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.

However, you will also get to enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

Some traditions are common:

  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a model of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plan that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The bonfires are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional dessert that people eat on Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is quite interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for fireworks a few days before Bonfire Night. There are kids that blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • The largest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find amazing firework displays.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only celebrations of the night.

There are many different foods associated with this event.

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

These are eaten all over the country, and some regions even have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November.

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

There are traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

People wear costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks, and sparklers on Bonfire Night.

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.

Summing up

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

It’s a great opportunity for people to reconnect, celebrate and also enjoy some amazing foods.

Over the years, it has impressed people.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that the event has evolved over the years into a more community-friendly event.

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

Cross Heath Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Cross Heath, Hempstalls, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England, ST5 9EA, United Kingdom

Organiser: Cross Heath Bonfire Night