Kingsbridge Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Kingsbridge poster

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

What information is important to know about Kingsbridge's Bonfire Night?

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

What is it that people love these celebrations so much?

Here’s a quick roundup to help you get up to speed with the Bonfire Night, its starting point and the reasons behind its amazing popularity.

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 blow up the parliament.

This happened in 1605, and people have been celebrating the Bonfire Night ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was thought to be against the Catholics.

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

These two and other supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

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

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

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

The Parliament made a public statement stating that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November because it is a day to be thankful for.

Which, eventually, led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of Bonfire Night activities in the UK nowadays.

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

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

The event looked similar as the 20th century progressed.

Traditions associated with the evening of bonfires.

Generally, Bonfire Night is a time when people parade in costumes and they also utilize flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers.

This is a clear nod to the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

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

What should you wear to the Bonfire Night events?

Depending on where you live, people tend to dress up in a variety of costumes.

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

The Bonfire Night is a great opportunity for people to show off their winter clothes.

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

You don't have to wear a costume if you have a proper outfit that protects you from the cold weather.

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

You are going to find a lot of amazing things to do in the UK.

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

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 get to see 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:

  • Some of the largest fireworks displays can be found in the biggest cities. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and firework displays all over the country.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the Parliament building.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed into old clothes.
  • The bonfires are not only 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 crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. It is possible to cook potatoes wrapped in a foil as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • Another tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some 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.

Which foods are popular during the night?

There are more than just bonfires and fireworks at the Bonfire Night events.

There are a lot of things associated with this event.

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

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

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

Conclusion

A staple event over the years, Bonfire Night continues every year.

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

It is one of the things that have impressed people over the years.

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

The most important parts of Bonfire Night are happiness and good time, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come.

Kingsbridge Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Kingsbridge, South Hams, Devon, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Kingsbridge Bonfire Night