Shotton Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Shotton poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Shotton?

The Bonfire Night has become an annual event over the years and is one of those incredible celebrations.

What is it that makes people love these celebrations so much?

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

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 the event.

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating Bonfire Nights ever since.

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

Robert and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to return Catholicism to its rightful place.

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

There was a plan to assassinate the king because he was in attendance.

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

The other conspirators were also taken into custody after 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 for.

We went to the Bonfire Night due to this.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed all over the UK

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

As the 20th century went on, the event looked similar to what we are seeing today.

What should you wear?

Depending on where you live, people tend to dress up in various costumes on Bonfire Night.

This approach is quite interesting, and it is being prepared for the events.

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

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

A proper outfit that protects you from the cold weather is more than welcome, even if you don't have to wear a costume.

Bonfire Night attractions

You will find many amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, but smaller events also take place.

It's become a community-focused event for a lot of people because everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You will get to enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

Common traditions are here:

  • 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, in an attempt to blow up the Parliament building.
  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the biggest displays. You can find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is another interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to get some money to buy 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.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even though they are just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people make 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 eaten on the Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake, and it is very tasty.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a bird. The effigy is usually made out of straws or paper and stuffed with old clothes.

There are traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

People parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers on Bonfire Night

It is obvious 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 way.

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

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The Bonfire Night events are not only a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are many foods associated with the event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee or the toffee apples are all associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

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

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night becomes a staple event.

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

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

Even if the origins of the event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it has evolved into a more community-friendly event.

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

Shotton Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Shotton, Flintshire, Cymru / Wales, CH5 1BF, United Kingdom

Organiser: Shotton Bonfire Night