Newport Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Newport poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Newport?

The annual celebration of the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an event over the years.

What does it mean and why do people love these celebrations so much?

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

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I, while also trying to blow up the parliament.

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

There was a lot of anger against the king, since he was seen as being against the Catholics.

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

The people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The plan was to assassinate the king as he was in attendance.

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

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

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

Also, the Parliament chose to declare the 5th of November as a day to be thankful for, and hence the tradition to light up bonfires.

Which eventually led to the Bonfire Night.

The UK has a lot of Bonfire Night activities.

Despite the fact that the origins of the event are sinister, it has become a community event over the years.

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

The event of the 20th century was more similar to what we are experiencing today.

There are attractions during the night.

There are some great attractions and events in the UK.

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

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

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

There are some common traditions:

  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people make soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake called the parking cake that is eaten on Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very tasty.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a model of a man and burn it. The effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, which is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • There is a tradition called "Penny for the guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to the 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 did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • During the Bonfire Night processions, flaming tar barrels are carried on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had in order to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays in the country. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and amazing firework displays.

Traditions related to the night of bonfires.

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

It is obvious 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 end with a firework display and large bonfire.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

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

There are a lot of things associated with this event.

In fact, things like the jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee or the toffee apples are widely associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

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

What should you wear?

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

This is in preparation for the events, and it’s quite an interesting approach.

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 and something to keep in mind.

It is not necessary to dress up in a costume to protect yourself against the cold weather.

Summing up

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

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

It is one of those events that have impressed people in the past.

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.

We can expect this event to continue for years and years to come, because happiness and a good time are the most important parts of Bonfire Night.

Newport Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island, United States

Organiser: Newport Bonfire Night