Keswick Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Keswick poster

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

What should you know about Keswick's bonfire night?

An annual event over the years, the Bonfire Night is one of those incredible celebrations.

But what is it that makes people love these celebrations so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night by reading this quick recap.

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I, while also attempting 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 Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to the rightful place.

They came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

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

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

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

The Parliament stated that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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.

Throughout the UK, there are Bonfire Night activities.

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

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

The event of the 20th century was more and more similar to what we are experiencing today.

There are traditions associated with the Bonfire Night.

People parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers during 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 large bonfire and a firework display.

What should you wear at the event?

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

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

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

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

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

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night?

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

There are many foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples 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 as well.

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

There are attractions during the night.

There are many amazing attractions and events in the UK.

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

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.

You will also get 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:

  • There's 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 tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is very interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for the 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.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a homemade model of a man and then burn it. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • 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 make soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional dessert that people eat on Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake, and it is very delicious.
  • The country's biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas you are bound to find firework displays and bonfires.

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 get together and enjoy some great foods.

Over the years, it has impressed many people.

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

Keswick Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Keswick, Allerdale, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Keswick Bonfire Night