Maesteg Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Maesteg poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Maesteg?

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event for many years.

Why do people enjoy these festivities so much?

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 it is a way to celebrate the failure.

Since 1605 people have celebrated the Bonfire Night.

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

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

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

The plan was to kill the king when he was there.

A member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament.

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

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

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November to be thankful for.

We ended up going to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

The origins of the event are sinister, but it has become a community event over the years.

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

The event looked similar to what we are experiencing today as the 20th century progressed.

What should you wear to the Bonfire Night events?

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

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

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

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

Even though you don't have to dress up in a costume, a proper outfit that protects you against the cold is more than welcome.

Traditions related to the Bonfire Night.

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe way.

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

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

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

There are a lot of foods associated with this event.

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

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

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

There are attractions during the night.

You will find many amazing 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's become a community-focused event for a lot of people because they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

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

There are some traditions that are common:

  • One interesting tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money to buy fireworks. Kids blackened their faces in some parts of the country, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had in order 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. Many people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to see 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 bonfires. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man. This effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, it is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country host firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find amazing firework displays.

Summing up

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

It is a great time for people to celebrate and enjoy some amazing food.

The event has impressed many people over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it shifted towards being 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.

Maesteg Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Maesteg, Bridgend, Cymru / Wales, CF34 9DA, United Kingdom

Organiser: Maesteg Bonfire Night