North Shields Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in North Shields poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in North Shields?

The annual celebration of the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual 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 the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night by reading this quick list.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

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 of the parliament.

This happened in 1605 and people have celebrated the night ever since.

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

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

A group of people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The king was in attendance there, so the plan was also to assassinate him during the process.

A conspiracy member got cold feet and wrote a letter to the parliament.

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

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

The Parliament decided to make the 5th of November a day to be thankful for and therefore the tradition to light up bonfires.

We eventually headed to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed all over the UK.

Despite the fact that Bonfire Night's origins are sinister, it has become a community event over the years.

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

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

There are traditions associated with the night.

During Bonfire Night, people parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks, and sparklers.

This is a clear nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as 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 Bonfire Night celebrations are more than just a celebration with fireworks.

There are many different foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are commonly 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.

Some families share soups with friends or other family members, which is important to note.

Bonfire Night attractions

There are some great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared by 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 be able to enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

Common traditions are here:

  • The "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money for fireworks, a few days before Bonfire Night. 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.
  • The bonfires aren't just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil, as well as marshmallows and sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on the Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake, and it is very delicious.
  • The largest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. There are bonfires and amazing firework displays all over the country.
  • During the Bonfire Night processions flaming tar barrels are carried on the shoulders. This is also a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • An effigy, a homemade model of a man, is very common in the UK. This effigy is meant to represent Guy Fawkes, and it’s usually made out of straw or paper, all of it stuffed within old clothes.

What should you wear at the event?

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’s quite 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.

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

Bottom line

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

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

Over the years, it has impressed people and is one of those events.

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

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

North Shields Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Somerset Grove, Preston, New York, North Tyneside, North of Tyne, England, NE29 8PN, United Kingdom

Organiser: North Shields Bonfire Night