Rawtenstall Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Rawtenstall poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Rawtenstall?

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

But what does it signify and why do people love these festivities 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?

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

In 1605 this happened, and people have celebrated Bonfire Night ever since.

There was a lot of anger against the king at that time, 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 when he was there.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament, but ended up getting cold feet.

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

The Parliament made a statement about the situation and shared the fact that the conspirators were caught and 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 ended up going to the Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

Despite the fact that the origins of the event are sinister, it has become a community focused event over the years.

The firework manufacturers decided to change the celebration's name to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century because of its focus on having fun.

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked a lot like what we are experiencing today.

The Bonfire Night is associated with traditions.

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

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 large bonfire and a firework display.

What should you wear for the Bonfire Night events?

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

It is quite an interesting approach to prepare for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great time for most people to show off their winter clothes.

Something to keep in mind is the fact that a winter knit with a classical touch is the right way to go here.

It is not necessary to dress up in a costume to protect yourself against the cold weather.

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

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

Some families share soups with friends or other family members, which is important to note.

Bonfire Night attractions

There are a lot of amazing attractions in the UK.

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

It has become a community-focused event for a lot of people, 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.

There are some traditions that are common:

  • 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. Many people heat up soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat during Bonfire Night. The cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the Parliament building.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country get some of the largest displays for firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and firework displays.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man. The effigy is usually made out of paper and straw and stuffed with old clothes.
  • 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 to buy fireworks. In some regions, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.

Bottom line

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

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

Over the years, it has impressed many people.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that the event has evolved over the years 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 many years to come.

Rawtenstall Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Rawtenstall, Rossendale, Lancashire, England, BB4 6QS, United Kingdom

Organiser: Rawtenstall Bonfire Night