Harborne Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Harborne poster

Every year in Harborne, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, with fireworks lighting up the skies across the county of West Midlands.

What should you know about Harborne's bonfire night?

The annual celebration of the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an event over the years.

What does it mean to people and why do they love these celebrations so much?

Here are a few things you can do to get up to speed with the Bonfire Night.

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is that it is a way to celebrate Bonfire Night.

Since 1605 people have celebrated Bonfire Night.

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 in an armed struggle to bring Catholicism back to the rightful place.

A group of people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

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

A member of the conspiracy got cold feet and sent a letter to the parliament.

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

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

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

We ended up going to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed all over the UK

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

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

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked similar to what we are currently experiencing.

What should you wear at the event?

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

This approach is quite interesting and in preparation for the events.

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

Something to remember is that a winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here.

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome, even if you don't wear a costume.

The Bonfire Night has traditions associated with it.

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

It's clear 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 manner.

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

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

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

There are a lot of things associated with this event.

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

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

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

There are attractions during the night.

You are bound to find some amazing attractions and events throughout the UK.

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

It's become a community-focused event for a lot of people, where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

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

These are some traditions that are common:

  • Another interesting tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money to buy fireworks. In some regions you can even find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • During the processions of Bonfire Night, flaming tar barrels are carried on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country host firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find amazing firework displays and bonfires.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make an effigy of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothing.
  • The bonfires are not just meant to be 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 to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on the Bonfire Night. A cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle is very delicious.

Conclusion

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

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

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

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that the event has evolved over the years into 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!

Harborne Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Harborne, Birmingham, West Midlands Combined Authority, England, B17 9JX, United Kingdom

Organiser: Harborne Bonfire Night