Silsden Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Silsden poster

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

What should you know about Silsden's bonfire night?

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

What is it that people love these festivities so much?

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

People have celebrated the Bonfire Night since 1605.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was thought to be against the Catholics.

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

Two people came up with a plan to blow up a building.

The plan was to kill the king when he was in attendance.

A member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament.

After learning about the plan, the other conspirators were taken into custody here.

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

The Parliament decided that the 5th of November was a day to be thankful for and therefore the tradition to light up bonfires.

We went to the Bonfire Night after that.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed throughout the UK in locations like West Yorkshire.

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 by firework manufacturers due to the focus on having fun.

The event of the 20th century looked more and more like what we are seeing today.

What should you wear to the Bonfire Night events?

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

It is quite an interesting approach to prepare for the events.

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

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

If you want to protect yourself from the cold weather, a proper outfit is more than welcome.

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only things 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 associated with the Bonfire Night.

These are eaten throughout the country, and some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November as well.

Some families eat soup and share it with friends or family members.

Traditions associated with the night of the bonfire.

People parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers.

This is a clear nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as it was a celebration of independence.

Most of the time, there is a firework display and a large bonfire during Bonfire Night.

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

There are many amazing attractions in the UK.

Smaller events also take place in countryside regions too, although here you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community.

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

However, you will also get 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:

  • The bonfires aren't just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook a lot of food. Many people heat up soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the evening of Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very tasty.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country have firework displays. Even in rural areas, you will find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country.
  • During the Bonfire Night processions there is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plan that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • A homemade model of a man is often burned in the UK. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy" Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and ask for money in order to buy fireworks. In some regions you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.

In the end

Every year, Bonfire Night continues to be a staple event.

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

It is one of the events that have impressed people over the years.

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

Silsden Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Silsden, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Silsden Bonfire Night