Lawrence Weston Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Lawrence Weston poster

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

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

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

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

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity here.

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is that he wanted to blow up the parliament.

People have celebrated the Bonfire Night since 1605.

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

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

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

The plan was to kill the king when he was in attendance.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament but was 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 make the 5th of November a day to be thankful for and hence the tradition to light up bonfires.

Which eventually led to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK nowadays.

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

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.

The event of the 20th century looked more and more like what we are seeing today.

Traditions associated with the evening of bonfires.

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

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 manner.

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

You will find a lot of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

Smaller events also take place in countryside regions too, although here you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community.

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 get to enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

These are some traditions that are common:

  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The bonfires aren't just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook a lot of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the crowds to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of the bonfire. This cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • It is common for people in the UK to make a model of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper, stuffed with old clothes, and is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • There is an interesting tradition called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to Bonfire Night to ask for money for 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.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country have firework displays. You are bound to find firework displays and bonfires all over the country, even in rural areas.

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

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

In preparation for the events, this is quite an interesting approach.

The Bonfire Night is a good time for people to show off their winter clothes.

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

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome, even if you don't have to wear a costume.

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night?

The events of the Bonfire Night are more than just a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are a lot of foods associated with the event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals to be prepared around the 5th of November as well.

It’s also important to note that some families eat soups too, and they share it with friends or other family members.

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night continues, and has become a staple event.

It is a great time for people to celebrate 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's no denying that it shifted towards being 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.

Lawrence Weston Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Lawrence Weston, Bristol, City of Bristol, West of England, England, BS11 0QE, United Kingdom

Organiser: Lawrence Weston Bonfire Night