Exeter Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Exeter poster

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

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

The Bonfire Night has become an annual event over the years.

Why are people so fond of these festivities?

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

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

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

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

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

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

These two and other supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

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

However, a conspiracy member ended up getting cold feet and he sent a letter to the parliament.

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

The parliament shared that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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

Which eventually led to the Bonfire Night.

There are lots of Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

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.

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

There are many amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, although smaller events also take place.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night has become a community event where everyone has a good time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

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

Here are some traditions:

  • There's a tradition called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some 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 about to blow up the Parliament.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had for blowing up the Parliament building.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, which is why they are not just a symbol of the failed complot. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup for them. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake named the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very tasty.
  • 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.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade model of a man and burn it in effigy. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothing.

What should you wear at the event?

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

This is in preparation for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a good time for most people to show off their winter clothing.

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here.

You don't have to wear a costume if you have a proper outfit that protects you from the cold weather.

There are traditions associated with Bonfire Night.

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they attempted to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe way.

Most of the time, there is a firework display and a large bonfire during Bonfire Night.

Which foods are popular during the night?

The bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are lots of things associated with this event.

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

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

Some families share their soups with friends or family members.

In the end

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a staple event and continues every year

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

Over the years, it has been one of those events that people have been impressed with.

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 a good time, and we can expect this event to continue for a long time.

Exeter Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Exeter, Devon, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Exeter Bonfire Night