Porthcawl Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Porthcawl poster

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

What should you know about Porthcawl's bonfire night?

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

What does it mean to people and why do they love them so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the popularity of the Bonfire Night in a few minutes.

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is that it is a way to celebrate.

This happened in 1605 and has been celebrated ever since.

There was a lot of anger against the king due to the fact that he was against the Catholics.

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

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

The king was present, so the plan was to kill him.

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

The other conspirators were also taken into custody once they learned about the plan.

The Parliament made a public statement regarding the situation and shared that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided to light bonfires on the 5th of November to be thankful for.

We went to the Bonfire Night due to that.

There are lots of Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

Bonfire Night 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 event of the 20th century was more similar to what we are currently experiencing.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

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

There are many foods associated with the event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee and the toffee apples are all 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 family members.

There are attractions during the night.

There are many amazing attractions and events in the UK.

Smaller events also take place in countryside regions too, although here you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being 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 also get to watch some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

Some traditions are common:

  • The bonfires are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook food. A lot of people heat up soup for the people watching the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of bonfire. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake.
  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and amazing firework displays all over the country.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to Bonfire Night to ask for money for fireworks. 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.
  • It’s very common for many people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper, stuffed with old clothes, and meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. This is a reference to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.

What are you going to wear to the events?

Depending on where they 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.

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here, and certainly something to keep in mind.

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

Traditions related to the night of bonfires.

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as it was a celebration of independence.

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

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night continues as a staple event.

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

People have been impressed by it over the years.

Even if the origins of the event are a bit darker, there is no denying that the event has evolved into 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 a long time.

Porthcawl Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Porthcawl, Bridgend, Cymru / Wales, United Kingdom

Organiser: Porthcawl Bonfire Night