Kippax Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Kippax poster

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

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

The Bonfire Night is one of those incredible festivities and celebrations that have been adopted as an annual event over the years.

Why do people love these festivities so much, what does it mean?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity by reading this quick rundown.

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.

In 1605 this happened, and people have celebrated the Bonfire Night ever since.

What happened at that time is that there was a lot of anger against the king, since many considered he was intolerant 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.

Two supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

The king was in attendance, so the plan was to kill him.

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

The other conspirators were taken into custody when they learned of 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 light up bonfires on the 5th of November because it was a day to be thankful.

We were led to the Bonfire Night.

There are lots of Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister in nature.

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

The event of the 20th century looked similar to what we are seeing today.

The Bonfire Night has traditions.

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

It is 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 way.

There is a firework display and a large bonfire at most of the time.

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

The interesting thing to note about Bonfire Night is that people tend to dress up in various costumes, depending on where they live.

This is in preparation for the events.

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

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually 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.

Which foods are most 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 all associated with Bonfire Night.

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

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

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are lots of amazing attractions and events 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 is now 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 firework displays for a night to remember.

There are some common traditions:

  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of straws or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for the fireworks. In some parts of the country you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plan that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find firework displays and bonfires.
  • The bonfires are not just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook a lot of food. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people cook soup for them. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of bonfire. This cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.

At the end

Every year, Bonfire Night continues to be a staple event.

It is a great time for people to connect, celebrate and enjoy some amazing foods.

It has impressed people over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there's no denying that it shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

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

Kippax Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Kippax, Great Preston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Kippax Bonfire Night