Smallwood Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Smallwood poster

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

What should you know about Smallwood's bonfire night?

Every year, the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event.

But what does it signify and why do people love these festivities so much?

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

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 Bonfire Night celebrations.

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 too tolerant of the Catholics.

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

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

The king was in attendance so the plan was to kill him.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament, but he was cold feet.

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

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

The 5th of November was chosen by the Parliament to be a day to be thankful for.

We decided to attend the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK nowadays.

Over the years it has become a community focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister.

The firework manufacturers rebranded the celebration at the beginning of the 20th century because it was focused on having fun.

The event of the 20th century looked a lot like what we are seeing today.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are many great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks 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 like-minded people.

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

Here are some traditions:

  • The largest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays.
  • Another tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for 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.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a model of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed into old clothes.
  • 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 heat up soup for the crowds to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that is eaten on the Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • There is a tradition of carrying 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, in order to blow up the Parliament building.

Traditions associated with the evening of bonfires.

During Bonfire Night, 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, a celebration of independence, but in a safe way.

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

What are you going to wear for the events?

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

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

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

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here.

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

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night?

The bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with fireworks.

There are a lot of things associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, or the toffee apples are all 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 as well.

Some families eat soups too and share them with friends or family members.

Bottom line

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

It is a great time for people to connect, celebrate and enjoy some amazing food.

Over the years, it has been one of those things 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 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 to come!

Smallwood Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Smallwood, Redditch, Worcestershire, England, B98 7BZ, United Kingdom

Organiser: Smallwood Bonfire Night