Great Torrington Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Great Torrington poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Great Torrington?

The Bonfire Night has become an annual event over the years and is one of those incredible celebrations.

Why do people like these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity with this 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, and also to blow up the parliament.

In 1605 this happened, and people have celebrated Bonfire Night 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 believed that an armed struggle would bring Catholicism back to its rightful place.

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

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

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament, however, he got cold feet.

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

The Parliament made a statement about the situation and said that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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

We went to the Bonfire Night after that.

In places like Devon, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed.

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

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to "Bonfire Night or the Fireworks Night" because it was focused on having fun.

The event of the 20th century looked a lot like what we are seeing today.

There are traditions associated with the evening of bonfires.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers at 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 manner.

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

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

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

There are a lot of foods associated with this event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November as well.

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

What are you going to wear for the event?

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

This approach is quite interesting, and it is being prepared for the events.

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

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

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 the night.

You're going to find a lot of great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires, food and drinks shared with the community and smaller events.

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

Here are some common traditions:

  • Some of the biggest cities in the country host firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and amazing firework displays.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a model of a man, similar to a scarecrow, and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed into old clothes.
  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to Bonfire Night to ask for money to buy fireworks. There are kids that blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook a wide range of food. Many people heat up soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. People eat the parking cake on Bonfire Night. A cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle is very tasty.

At the end

Every year, Bonfire Night becomes a staple event.

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

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

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it became a more community-friendly event over the years.

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!

Great Torrington Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Great Torrington, Torridge, Devon, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Great Torrington Bonfire Night