Oundle Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Oundle poster

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

What should you know about Oundle's bonfire night?

Over the years the Bonfire Night has become an annual event.

Why do people like these celebrations so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night with a quick list.

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Bonfire Night exists in the UK is because it’s 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.

People have celebrated the Bonfire Night since 1605.

What happened at that time is that there was a lot of anger against the king, since many considered he was intolerant against the Catholics.

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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 due to the focus being on having fun.

The event of the 20th century looked more and more like what we are experiencing today.

The traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

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

Most of the time, there is a firework display and a large bonfire.

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only thing going on during the night.

There are many different foods associated with this event.

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

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

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

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

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

It is an interesting approach 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 way to go here.

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

There are some great attractions and events in the UK.

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

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

You will get 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:

  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an effort to blow up the Parliament building.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to burn a homemade model of a man. The effigy is usually made out of straws or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the biggest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you will find amazing firework displays and bonfires all over the country.
  • The bonfires are not just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook a lot of food. The crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup for them. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional cake that is eaten on Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very tasty.
  • The "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for the 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.

Bottom line

Every year, Bonfire Night continues as a staple event.

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

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

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there's no denying that it's become a more community-friendly event over the years.

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

Oundle Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Oundle, North Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Oundle Bonfire Night