Littlemore Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Littlemore poster

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

What should you know about Littlemore's bonfire night?

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event over the years.

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

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity with a quick rundown.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I and also tried to blow up the parliament in order to celebrate the failure of his plan.

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating it ever since.

There was a lot of anger against the king at that time, since he was seen as being anti-Catholic.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed that an armed struggle would bring Catholicism back to it's rightful place.

Two people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Commons.

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

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

After they learned about the plan, the other conspirators were taken into custody.

The Parliament made a public statement and shared 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 for.

Which lead us to the Bonfire Night.

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 because the focus was on having fun.

In the 20th century, the event looked similar to what we are seeing today.

There are attractions during the night.

There are a lot of amazing attractions in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events with food and drinks shared with the community.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night has become a community event where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You will also be able 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 traditions:

  • There are firework displays throughout the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. Even in rural areas, you can find bonfires and incredible firework displays.
  • The bonfires are not 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 cook soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of bonfires. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • There’s also a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had for blowing up the Parliament building.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made from straw or paper and stuffed into old clothes.
  • There is a tradition called "Penny for the Guy" Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to get some money to buy fireworks. In some regions you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was planning to blow up the Parliament.

Traditions related to the Bonfire Night.

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

It's 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, there is a firework display and a large bonfire.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

The bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are many foods associated with the event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November, which is when these are eaten throughout the country.

Some families eat soup and share it with friends or family members.

What are you going to wear to the events?

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

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

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

A winter knit with a classical touch is the right way to go here, and something to keep in mind.

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

In the end

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

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

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

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

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!

Littlemore Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Littlemore, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Littlemore Bonfire Night