Highway Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Highway poster

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

What should you know about Highway's bonfire night?

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

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

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the popularity of the Bonfire Night in a few minutes.

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, and also 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 he was against the Catholics.

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

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

The plan was to assassinate the king as he was in attendance.

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

The other conspirators were also taken into custody after they learned of the plan.

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

The Parliament decided that the 5th of November would be a day to be thankful for.

Which lead us to the Bonfire Night.

In the UK, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed in many locations.

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

The focus is on having fun, which is why the celebration was rebranded at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to Bonfire Night or the Fireworks Night.

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

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

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

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

Some traditions are common:

  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. There are bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country.
  • A homemade model of a man is often burned in the UK. This effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, it is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street to ask for money for fireworks a few days before the Bonfire Night. In some parts of the world, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • During the Bonfire Night processions there is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The bonfires aren't just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. People heat up soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil as well as marshmallows or sausages. There’s also a traditional cake that people eat on the Bonfire Night, named the Parking Cake. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are lots of foods associated with the event.

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

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

Some families share their soups with friends or family members.

The Bonfire Night is associated with traditions.

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

It is obvious that this is a nod to the failed attempt by Guy Fawkes and his band to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

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

What should you wear?

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

This is in preparation for the events, and it is quite interesting.

The Bonfire Night is a great opportunity 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 against the cold weather is more than welcome.

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night becomes a staple event.

It is a great time for people to celebrate and eat amazing foods.

It is one of those events that has impressed people over the years.

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

Highway Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Town Highway 25, Berkshire, Franklin County, Vermont, United States

Organiser: Highway Bonfire Night