Darwen Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Darwen poster

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

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

Every year, the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event.

Why do people love these festivities so much?

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

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I is that it is a way to celebrate the failure of the event.

The Bonfire Night was celebrated in 1605 and people have been celebrating ever since.

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

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

A group of people 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 conspirators who were involved in the plan were taken into custody here once they learned about it.

The Parliament made a public statement stating 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 of lighting up bonfires.

We went to the Bonfire Night due to that.

There are Bonfire Night activities in many locations in the UK.

The origins of Bonfire Night are sinister, but over the years it has become a community event.

The focus is on having fun, which is why the celebration was rebranded at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to Bonfire Night or the Fireworks Night.

The event looked similar to what we are experiencing today as the 20th century progressed.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are many foods associated with this event.

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

These are eaten all over the country, and some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November as well.

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

Traditions associated with the night of the bonfire.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers at 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.

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

What should you wear to the event?

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

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

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

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

If you want to protect yourself from the cold weather, a proper outfit is more than welcome.

Bonfire Night attractions

There are some amazing attractions in the UK.

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

You will be able to enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

Some traditions are common:

  • The bonfires are not just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the crowds to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money to buy fireworks. In some regions you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • The biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays in the country. There are bonfires and amazing firework displays all over the country.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, to blow up the Parliament building.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make and burn an effigy of a man. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothes.

Summing up

A staple event over the years, Bonfire Night continues every year.

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

It’s certainly one of those events that have impressed people over the years.

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

We can expect this event to continue for years and years to come, because happiness and a good time are the most important parts of Bonfire Night.

Darwen Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: River Darwen, Chorley, Lancashire, England, PR5 4DH, United Kingdom

Organiser: Darwen Bonfire Night