Shepton Mallet Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Shepton Mallet poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Shepton Mallet?

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

Why are people so fond of these festivities?

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

What is the tradition of the Bonfire Night?

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

This happened in 1605 and people have celebrated bonfires ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was seen as being racist against the Catholics.

There was a vision that only an armed struggle would return Catholicism to its rightful place.

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

The king was in attendance there, so the plan was also to assassinate him during the process.

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

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

The Parliament shared that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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

Which eventually took us to the Bonfire Night.

There are many Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

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

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

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

What should you wear to the events?

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

This approach is quite interesting, and it is 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 helps you protect yourself against the cold weather is more than welcome.

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are lots of foods associated with this event.

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

These are eaten throughout the country, and some regions even have their own special meals to prepare around the 5th of November.

It is important to note that some families share their soups with friends and family.

There are attractions during the night.

There are a lot of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

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

It's 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.

Some traditions are common:

  • It is a tradition to carry 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 to blow up the parliament building.
  • The country's biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays. There are bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The bonfires aren't just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people make soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The Parking Cake is a traditional cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is very interesting. A few days before the Bonfire Night, kids used to take the homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to ask for some money for the fireworks. In some regions, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, similar to a bird. This effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, it is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.

Traditions associated with the night.

Generally, Bonfire Night is a time when people parade in costumes and they also utilize 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.

Most of the time, these Bonfire Night events include a firework display and a large bonfire.

In the end

Every year, Bonfire Night continues, and has become a staple event.

It is a great time for people to come together and enjoy some amazing foods.

It is one of those events that have impressed people in the past.

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 event to continue for many years to come.

Shepton Mallet Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Shepton Mallet, Mendip, Somerset, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Shepton Mallet Bonfire Night