Leek Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Leek poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Leek?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event.

Why do people love this event so much?

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

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I and also tried to blow up the parliament, which is why Bonfire Night is celebrated in the UK.

People have been celebrating the Bonfire Night since 1605.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was seen as being racist against the Catholics.

Robert 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 king was present so the plan was to kill him.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament after getting cold feet.

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

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

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November in honor of being thankful.

We went to the Bonfire Night due to that.

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

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

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.

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked more and more similar to what we are experiencing today.

There are some traditions associated with the Bonfire Night.

People wear costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks, and sparklers during Bonfire Night.

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

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

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are only part of the celebration.

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 associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

Some families eat soups and share them with friends or family members.

What should you wear to the Bonfire Night events?

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

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

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

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

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

There are attractions during 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, but 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 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.

There are some traditions that are common:

  • "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to Bonfire Night to ask for money to buy fireworks. In some regions you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was planning to blow up the Parliament.
  • There are firework displays throughout the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. You are bound to find firework displays and bonfires all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • It’s very common for many 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 paper or straw, stuffed with old clothes, and is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The bonfires are supposed to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil, as well as marshmallows and sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. The plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building are a nod to this.

Bottom line

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a staple event, and it continues every year.

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

Over the years it has been one of those events that have impressed people.

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

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

Leek Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Leek, Staffordshire Moorlands, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Leek Bonfire Night