Okehampton Bonfire Night 2022

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Okehampton?

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

Why do people love these events?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night by reading this 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 attempting to blow up the parliament.

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

At that time, 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 bring back Catholicism to the rightful place.

Some people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

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

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

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

The Parliament shared that the conspirators had been caught and punished.

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

We went to the Bonfire Night because of that.

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

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

The firework manufacturers decided to change the celebration's name to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century because of the focus on having fun.

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked a lot like what we are seeing today.

What should you wear at the event?

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

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

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

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

You don't have to dress up in a costume, but a proper outfit that protects you from the cold is more than welcome.

Bonfire Night attractions

You are going to find a lot of great attractions and events 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-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.

Common traditions are here:

• It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, to blow up the Parliament building.
• The largest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you will find amazing firework displays and bonfires all over the country.
• The bonfires are more than just a symbol of failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people make soup for the people coming by to see the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on Bonfire Night. A cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle is very tasty.
• In the UK, it is very common for people to make an effigy of a man and burn it. This effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, which is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
• There's 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. Kids blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.

There are traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

People parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers on 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, in a safe manner.

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

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

The Bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with fireworks.

There are many foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee and other items are 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 and family.

Bottom line

Every year, Bonfire Night continues as a staple event.

It is a great time for people to celebrate and eat amazing 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 it became 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 go on for many years to come.

Okehampton Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Okehampton, West Devon, Devon, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Okehampton Bonfire Night