Darlington Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Darlington poster

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

What should you know about Darlington's bonfire night?

The Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event over the years.

Why do people love these festivities?

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

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is because of the celebration of Bonfire Night.

This happened in 1605 and people have celebrated bonfires ever since.

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

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

Some people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The plan was to assassinate the king as he was in attendance.

A member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament after getting cold feet.

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

The Parliament shared that the conspirators were caught and punished, in a public statement.

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November due to being a day to be thankful for.

We decided to attend the Bonfire Night.

In the UK, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed in many places.

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

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers because of its focus on having fun.

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked similar to what we are currently experiencing.

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

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

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

Most people like to show off their winter clothes on Bonfire Night.

Something to keep in mind is the fact that a winter knit with a classical touch is 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 is more than welcome.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

There are more than just bonfires and fireworks at the Bonfire Night events.

There are a lot of foods associated with this event.

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

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

Some families eat soups too and share them with friends or other family members.

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 with the community.

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

With some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember, you will get to enjoy some great firework displays as well.

Some traditions are common:

  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an effort to blow up the Parliament building.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some 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 tried to do when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • The bonfires are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people cook soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. People eat a traditional cake called the parking cake on Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • An effigy, a homemade model of a man, is very common in the UK. This effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothes.
  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and amazing firework displays all over the country.

Traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

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

It's clear that this is a 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 manner.

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

In the end

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

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

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 shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

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

Darlington Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Darlington, County Durham, Tees Valley, England, DL1 5PW, United Kingdom

Organiser: Darlington Bonfire Night