Pembroke Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Pembroke poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Pembroke?

The Bonfire Night is one of those incredible festivities and celebrations that have been adopted as an annual event over the years.

What is it that people love these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night by reading this quick rundown.

What is the tradition of the Bonfire Night?

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

In 1605 this happened and people have been celebrating bonfires ever since.

There was a lot of anger against the king due to the fact he was 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 plan was to assassinate the king when he was there.

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

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

The fact that the conspirators were caught and punished was shared by the Parliament in a public statement.

On the 5th of November, the Parliament decided to make it a day to be thankful.

Which, eventually, led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are many Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

Over the years it has become a community focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister.

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

The 20th century event looked a lot like what we are experiencing today.

The Bonfire Night has traditions associated with it.

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

It is clear 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 way.

Most of the time, these events end with a firework display and a big bonfire.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

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

There are a lot of foods associated with the 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 even have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November.

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

What should you wear to the events?

The interesting thing to note about Bonfire Night is that people tend to dress up in various costumes, depending on where they live.

It is an interesting approach that is being prepared for the events.

Most people like to show off their winter clothes on Bonfire Night.

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

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

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

You will find a lot of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires, food and drinks shared with the community, and smaller events.

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 also 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.

These are some traditions that are common:

  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. There are bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a model of a man and burn it. 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.
  • The bonfires are not meant just to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. The crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup for them. Some people cook potatoes in a foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional dessert that people eat on Bonfire Night. A cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle is very delicious.
  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money for the fireworks, a few days before the Bonfire Night. 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.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the parliament building.

In the end

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

It is a great time for people to get together and enjoy some great foods.

Over the years it has impressed people.

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

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

Pembroke Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Cymru / Wales, United Kingdom

Organiser: Pembroke Bonfire Night