Gateshead Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Gateshead poster

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

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

The Bonfire Night is one of those incredible festivities and celebrations that have 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 its popularity with a quick rundown.

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

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 Bonfire Night ever since.

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

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed that only an armed struggle would restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

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

The plan was to kill the king during the process, because he was in attendance.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament, but was cold feet.

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

The Parliament shared that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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

It eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of Bonfire Night activities in the UK nowadays.

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

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

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

What should you wear to the events?

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

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

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

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here, and certainly something to keep in mind.

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

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

You will find a lot of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

Food and drinks are shared with the community at smaller events that take place in countryside regions.

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.

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.

Here are some traditions that exist:

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

Traditions related to the Bonfire Night.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers on Bonfire Night.

This is obviously a clear 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.

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

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Nights?

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

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

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

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

Some families share their soups with their friends or family members.

Bottom line

Over time, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

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

The event has impressed many people over the years.

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 aspects of Bonfire Night are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come.

Gateshead Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Gateshead Drive, Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, 08807, United States

Organiser: Gateshead Bonfire Night