Shelton Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Shelton poster

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

What should you know about Shelton's bonfire night?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has evolved into an annual event.

Why do people love these events?

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

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

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 people celebrated the Bonfire Night.

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

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

A group of supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The plan was to assassinate the king as he was in attendance.

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

The other conspirators ended up being taken into custody after they learned about the plan.

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

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

Which eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

In locations like Staffordshire, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed.

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

The celebration was renamed to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century because of its focus on having fun.

The event of the 20th century looked more and more similar to what we are experiencing today.

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

The celebration with bonfires and fireworks is not the only thing happening.

There are many different 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 all over the country, and some regions even have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November.

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

What are you going to wear for the events?

People tend to dress up in different costumes depending on where they live on Bonfire Night.

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

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

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

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

There are some amazing attractions in the UK.

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

A lot of people think that 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 get to see some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

Here are some traditions that exist:

  • Some of the largest firework displays are in the biggest cities in the country. There are bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The bonfires are not meant to be just a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people cook soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt 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, similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is quite interesting. 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 about to blow up the Parliament.

The Bonfire Night has traditions.

People in costumes use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers during Bonfire Night.

It's clear that this is a nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

The majority of the time, these Bonfire Night events end with a firework display and a large bonfire.

In the end

Every year, Bonfire Night becomes a staple event.

It is a great time for people to get together and enjoy some 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 has evolved into a more community-friendly event over the years.

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

Shelton Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Shelton Street, Wilnecote, Tamworth, Staffordshire, England, B77 5DB, United Kingdom

Organiser: Shelton Bonfire Night