Shildon Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Shildon poster

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

What should you know about Shildon's bonfire night?

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

Why do people love these festivities so much, and what does it mean?

Here are a few things you can do to get up to speed with the Bonfire Night.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is because of the celebration of Bonfire Night.

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

What happened at that time is that there was a lot of anger against the king, since many considered he was intolerant against the Catholics.

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

The supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Commons.

The king was present so the plan was to kill him.

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

The conspirators who were involved in the plan were taken into custody here once they learned about it.

The Parliament made a public statement about the situation and shared that the conspirators had been caught and punished.

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

Which led us to the Bonfire Night.

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

Despite the fact that Bonfire Night's origins are sinister, it has become a community 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 the focus was on having fun.

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

Which are the most popular foods during Bonfire Night?

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

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 items associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

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

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

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

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

The Bonfire Night is a great place for people to show off their winter clothing.

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

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.

Traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

People wear costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers at Bonfire Night.

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

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

There are attractions during 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, as well as smaller events.

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 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 are common:

  • The bonfires are not just a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. Many people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil, but also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat during the Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade effigy of a man and burn it. This effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, which is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • During the Bonfire Night processions flaming tar barrels are carried on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to the Bonfire Night to ask for money to buy fireworks. There are kids that 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 fireworks displays can be found in the biggest cities. Even in rural areas, you are likely to find bonfires and incredible firework displays.

At the end

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a staple event and it continues every year.

It is a great time for people to celebrate and eat amazing foods.

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

Shildon Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Shildon, County Durham, North East, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Shildon Bonfire Night