Cwmbran Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Cwmbran poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Cwmbran?

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

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

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity with a quick rundown.

Why do we celebrate 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 attempt.

This happened in 1605 and has been celebrated ever since.

There was a lot of anger against the king due to the fact that he was against Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who wanted an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

The supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Commons.

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

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

After learning about the plan, the other conspirators were taken into custody here.

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 up bonfires.

Which eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that it is sinister in nature.

The firework manufacturers decided to change the celebration's name to Fireworks Night 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.

What should you wear to the events?

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

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

The Bonfire Night is a great chance for most people to show off their winter clothes.

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

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

The Bonfire Night is associated with traditions.

During Bonfire Night, people parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers.

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

Most of the time, these Bonfire Night events are culminating with a firework display and a very large bonfire.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are some amazing attractions 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 get to enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

There are some traditions:

  • The biggest cities in the country have the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find amazing firework displays.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food and are not just a symbol of the failed complot. People heat up soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. Some even cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, but also marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the eve of Bonfire Night. This cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it’s very tasty.
  • The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an effort to blow up the Parliament building.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to burn a homemade model of a man. The effigy is usually made from straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The tradition is 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. Kids blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are lots of things associated with this event.

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

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

Bottom line

Every year, Bonfire Night becomes a staple event.

It is a great time for people to celebrate and enjoy some amazing food.

Over the years, it is one of those events that have impressed people.

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

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

Cwmbran Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Cwmbran, Torfaen, Cymru / Wales, NP44 3AL, United Kingdom

Organiser: Cwmbran Bonfire Night