Ebbw Vale Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Ebbw Vale poster

Every year in Ebbw Vale, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Blaenau Gwent we gather around the bonfire.

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Ebbw Vale?

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event for a long time.

Why do people like these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night in a few easy steps.

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is that he wanted to blow up the parliament.

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating bonfires ever since.

At that time there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was seen as being against the 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 plan was to assassinate the king while he was there.

A member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament.

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

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

The Parliament decided to make the 5th of November a day to be thankful for and therefore the tradition of lighting up bonfires.

We eventually headed to the Bonfire Night.

The UK has a lot of Bonfire Night activities.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite its origins being sinister.

The celebration was renamed to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century due to the fact that it was focused on having fun.

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

There are traditions associated with Bonfire Night.

People parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers during 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, these events include a firework display and a large bonfire.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

The UK has a lot of amazing attractions and events.

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

A lot of people think that 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.

These are some traditions that are common:

  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade model of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The bonfires are not meant to be just 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 that come by to see the fireworks. Some cooks cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. People eat the parking cake on Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake, and it is very tasty.
  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the biggest firework displays. There are bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is another interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for fireworks a few days before the Bonfire Night. In some regions, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • During the Bonfire Night processions, flaming tar barrels are carried on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans of Guy Fawkes and his team to blow up the Parliament building.

What should you wear to the events?

People tend to dress up in different costumes depending on where they live on Bonfire Night

It is quite an interesting approach that is being prepared for the events.

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

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

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

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are only part of the celebration.

There are lots of foods associated with the event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that are prepared around the 5th of November.

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

In the end

Over time, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

It is a great time for people to come together and enjoy some amazing foods.

It has impressed people over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there’s no denying that over the years Bonfire Night shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

We can expect this event to continue for years and years to come because of the importance of happiness and a good time.

Ebbw Vale Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, Cymru / Wales, NP23 6JQ, United Kingdom

Organiser: Ebbw Vale Bonfire Night