Pontymoel Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Pontymoel poster

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

What should you know about Pontymoel's bonfire night?

The Bonfire Night is an annual event that has been adopted as an incredible event over the years.

Why do people love these festivities so much, and what does it mean?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity 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 to blow up the parliament.

This happened in 1605 and people have celebrated it ever since.

At that time there was a lot of anger against the king since he was seen as being against the Catholics.

There was a vision that only an armed struggle would restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

The supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Commons.

The plan was to kill the king while he was in attendance.

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

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

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

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

We were led to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities all over the UK.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that it's origins are sinister.

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

As the 20th century went on, the event looked similar to what we are seeing today.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

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

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

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

With some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember, you will get to enjoy some great firework displays as well.

There are some common traditions:

  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plan that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country have firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find incredible firework displays.
  • There is an interesting 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 parts of the world, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food and are not just a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people heat up soup for people to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, but also marshmallows or sausages. The traditional parking cake is eaten on the Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very tasty.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make and burn an effigy of a man. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper, and stuffed with old clothes.

There are many traditions associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

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 manner.

The majority of the time, these Bonfire Night events end with a firework display.

What are you going to wear for the event?

Depending on where you live, people tend to dress up in different costumes.

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.

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 against the cold is more than welcome.

Which are the most popular foods during Bonfire Night?

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

There are many different foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas and treacle toffee are just some of the things 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.

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

Conclusion

A staple event over the years, Bonfire Night continues every year.

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

It has impressed people over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there’s no denying that over the years Bonfire Night shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

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

Pontymoel Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Pontymoile, Pontypool, Torfaen, United Kingdom

Organiser: Pontymoel Bonfire Night