Hillfields Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Hillfields poster

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

What should you know about Hillfields's bonfire night?

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

But 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 amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night with this quick list.

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

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

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating 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 it's rightful place.

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

The plan was to assassinate the king when he was there.

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

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

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

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

Which eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays there are Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

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

The firework manufacturers decided to change the celebration's name to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century because of the focus on having fun.

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

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

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

There are a lot of foods associated with the event.

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

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

Some families share soups with friends or other family members.

What are you going to wear for the events?

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

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

The Bonfire Night is a great time 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 right way to go here.

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome.

The Bonfire Night has traditions associated with it.

People parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers during 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.

Most of the time, there is a firework display and a large bonfire.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

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

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, although smaller events also take place.

It has become a community-focused event 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 pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

These are some traditions that are common:

  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a homemade model of a man and burn it. The effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper.
  • There are firework displays throughout the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. There are bonfires and amazing firework displays all over the country.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, which is why they are not just a symbol of the failed complot. Many people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. People eat a traditional parking cake on Bonfire Night. This cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it’s very tasty.
  • The tradition called "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 for the fireworks. In some regions, 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, flaming tar barrels can be carried on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, to blow up the Parliament building.

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 come together and enjoy some great food.

People have been impressed by it over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it shifted towards being 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 years and years to come!

Hillfields Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Hillfields, Bristol, City of Bristol, West of England, England, BS16 4EN, United Kingdom

Organiser: Hillfields Bonfire Night