Portsmouth Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Portsmouth poster

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

What information is important to know about Portsmouth's Bonfire Night?

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

Why do people love these celebrations so much?

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

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

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.

In 1605 this happened, and people have been celebrating Bonfire Nights ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was seen as being anti-Catholic.

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

The two people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The plan was to assassinate the king because he was there.

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

The conspirators who were involved in the plan were taken into custody after they learned about it.

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

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November due to being a day to be thankful for.

We traveled to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed all over the UK.

Despite the fact that Bonfire Night's origins are sinister, it has become a community event over the years.

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

The event looked similar as the 20th century progressed.

What are you going to wear to the events?

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

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

The Bonfire Night is a good time for people to show off their winter clothing.

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, because you don't have to dress up in a costume.

There are traditions associated with Bonfire Night.

During Bonfire Night, people parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers.

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 end with a firework display and large bonfire.

Which are the most popular foods during Bonfire Night?

There are more than just bonfires and fireworks at the Bonfire Night events.

There are lots of foods associated with the event.

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

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

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

There are many amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, but smaller events also take place.

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.

There are some common traditions:

  • The bonfires are not just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all sorts of food. Many people heat up soup for the crowds coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, as well as marshmallows and sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on the night of the bonfire. A cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle is very delicious.
  • There are firework displays throughout the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. You can find bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a homemade model of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper, and stuffed with old clothes.
  • Another interesting tradition comes in the form of “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 tried to do when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • 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 order to blow up the Parliament building.

Bottom line

Every year, Bonfire Night continues to be a staple event.

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

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

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

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.

Portsmouth Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States

Organiser: Portsmouth Bonfire Night