Seaton Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Seaton poster

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

What should you know about Seaton's bonfire night?

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

Why do people like these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity with this quick rundown.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is that he wanted to blow up the parliament.

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

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

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to bring about the return of Catholicism to the rightful place.

They came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The plan was to kill the king when he was there.

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

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

The Parliament made a public 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 hence the tradition to light bonfires.

After that, we went to the Bonfire Night.

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

The origins of Bonfire Night are sinister, but over the years it has become a community event.

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

The event of the 20th century was more similar to what we are seeing today.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

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

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

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

You will also get to see 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 called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and ask for money in order 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.
  • Some of the largest firework displays are in the biggest cities in the country. Even in rural areas, you will find amazing firework displays and bonfires all over the country.
  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook a lot of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, and also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a bird. All of the effigy is stuffed within old clothes and made out of straw or paper.

Which are the most popular foods during Bonfire Night?

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

There are a lot of foods associated with the event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that are prepared around the 5th of November.

It is important to note that some families eat soup and share it with friends or family.

Traditions related to the Bonfire Night.

People wear costumes and use fireworks, flaming torches, and sparklers on 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 events include a firework display and a large bonfire.

What should you wear for the Bonfire Night events?

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

Something to keep in mind is that a winter knit with aclassical 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 weather is more than welcome.

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night is a staple event.

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

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

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it became 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.

Seaton Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Seaton, Allerdale, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Seaton Bonfire Night