Southsea Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Southsea poster

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

What should you know about Southsea's bonfire night?

The annual event that has been adopted as an annual event is the Bonfire Night.

Why are people so fond of these festivities?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity with a quick rundown.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I while also attempting to blow up the parliament.

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

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

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

Two people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Commons.

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

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

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

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

The Parliament decided to make the 5th of November a day to be thankful for and hence the tradition to light bonfires.

We went to the Bonfire Night because of that.

Throughout the UK, there are Bonfire Night activities.

The origins of the event are sinister, but over the years it has become a community focused event.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers due to the focus being on having fun.

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

Bonfire Night attractions

You will find a lot of great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires and local events with food and drinks shared with the community.

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

You can also enjoy 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:

  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest displays for firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and amazing firework displays.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, which is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to get some money for fireworks. In some parts of the country you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • The bonfires aren't just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people heat up soup for people to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are plenty of foods associated with this event as well.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee are just some of the things that are associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

Some families share their soups with friends or family members.

What should you wear at the event?

People tend to dress up in different costumes depending on where they live on Bonfire Night

This is in preparation for the events.

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

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

It is not necessary to dress up in a costume to protect yourself against the cold weather.

Traditions associated with the night of the bonfire.

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

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, these events include a firework display and a large bonfire.

In the end

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

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

It is one of those events that have impressed people in the past.

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

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

Southsea Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Southsea Skate Park, Clarence Esplanade, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, PO5 3NZ, United Kingdom

Organiser: Southsea Bonfire Night