South Molton Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in South Molton poster

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

What should you know about South Molton's bonfire night?

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

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

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity here.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I and also tried to blow up the parliament in order to celebrate the failure of his plan.

This happened in 1605 and people have celebrated Bonfire Night ever since.

There was a lot of anger against the king due to the fact he was 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 two supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

The plan was to assassinate the king as he was in attendance.

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

The other conspirators ended up being taken into custody after they learned about the plan.

The Parliament said that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November in honor of being thankful for it.

We traveled to the Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community-focused event despite its sinister origins.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to Bonfire Night or the Fireworks Night because the focus was on having fun.

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked more and more like what we are seeing today.

There are traditions associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

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.

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

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

You are bound to find some amazing attractions and events throughout the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, but there are also smaller events.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night has become a community event where everyone has a good 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.

There are some common traditions:

  • The bonfires are not just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people make soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil, as well as marshmallows and sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on the Bonfire Night. The cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade model of a man and burn it in effigy. This effigy is meant to represent Guy Fawkes, and it’s usually made out of straw or paper, all of it stuffed within old clothes.
  • There is an interesting tradition called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take the homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money for the fireworks. In some parts of the world you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. But in general you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.

What are you going to wear for the events?

Depending on where they 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 most people to show off their winter clothing.

Something to keep in mind is that a winter knit with a classical touch is typically 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 dress in a costume.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only celebration of the night.

There are many different foods associated with this event.

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

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

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

At the end

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

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

It’s certainly one of those 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 has evolved into 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.

South Molton Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: South Molton, North Devon, Devon, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: South Molton Bonfire Night