Freshwater Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Freshwater poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Freshwater?

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

Why do people love these festivals so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night by reading 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 while also attempting to blow up the parliament in the UK.

People have celebrated the Bonfire Night since 1605.

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

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed that an armed struggle would bring Catholicism back to it's rightful place.

Two people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Commons.

The king was in attendance and the plan was to kill him.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament but ended up getting cold feet.

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

The parliament shared that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The 5th of November was chosen by the Parliament to be a day to be thankful for.

We ended up at the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed all over the UK.

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

The celebration was renamed to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century because of the focus on having fun.

The 20th century event looked similar to what we are seeing today.

Traditions associated with the night of bonfires

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

It is obvious 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 way.

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

What are you going to wear for the events?

Depending on where they live, people tend to dress up in various costumes for Bonfire Night.

It is quite interesting that this is in preparation for the events.

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

Something to keep in mind is that a winter knit with a classical touch is usually the 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 in a costume.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

The celebration with bonfires and fireworks is not the only thing happening.

There are plenty of foods associated with this event as well.

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 for the 5th of November.

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

Bonfire Night attractions

The UK has many amazing attractions and events.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, but there are also smaller events.

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

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

There are some traditions:

  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade effigy of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw, and stuffed with old clothes.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country have some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas you are bound to find firework displays and bonfires.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food and are not just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. The 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 and also marshmallows and sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat during the Bonfire Night. The cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting one. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to the Bonfire Night to ask for money to buy fireworks. In some areas you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.

At the end

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

It is a great time for people to connect, celebrate and enjoy some amazing foods.

Over the years, it has been one of the most popular events.

Even if the origins of the event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it has become 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 many years to come.

Freshwater Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Freshwater, Isle of Wight, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Freshwater Bonfire Night