Rushall Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Rushall poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Rushall?

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 makes people love these events so much?

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

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I is that it is a way to celebrate the failure of that attempt.

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

There was a lot of anger against the king, since he was seen as being against the Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed that only an armed struggle would restore Catholicism to its 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 in attendance.

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

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

The Parliament made a statement regarding the situation and shared 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 of lighting up bonfires.

Which eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in many locations in the UK.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite its origins being sinister.

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

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked similar to what we are experiencing today.

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

There are some 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 event where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You will 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 common traditions:

  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The bonfires are not just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. It is possible to cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that 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 burn a homemade model of a man. This effigy is made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes, it is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The biggest cities in the country have the largest firework displays. You are bound to find firework displays and bonfires all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to get some money to buy fireworks. Kids blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.

What should you wear to the events?

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

It is an interesting approach in preparation for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great opportunity for 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 associated with the evening of bonfires.

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

Most of the time, these Bonfire Night events are culminating with a firework display and a very large bonfire.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only things happening.

There are many foods associated with the event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are just some of the things associated with the Bonfire Night.

Some regions have their own special meals to be prepared around the 5th of November.

Some families eat soups and share them with friends or family.

In the end

Every year, Bonfire Night continues as a staple event.

It is a great time for people to connect, 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 it became a more community-friendly event over time.

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

Rushall Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Rushall, McClean Way, Heath End, Rushall, Walsall, West Midlands Combined Authority, England, WS4 1DG, United Kingdom

Organiser: Rushall Bonfire Night