Southsea Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Southsea poster

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

What should you know about Southsea's bonfire night?

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

What does it mean and why do people love these celebrations so much?

Here are a few things you can do to get up to speed with the Bonfire Night.

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

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

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating 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 and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

The two supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

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

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

The conspirators who were involved in the plan were taken into custody here after they learned about it.

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

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

Which lead us to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities can be found throughout 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 of the focus on having fun.

The event of the 20th century was more similar to what we are experiencing today.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

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

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, as well as smaller events.

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

You will be able 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:

  • Some of the biggest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. There are bonfires and amazing firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for fireworks a few days before Bonfire Night. In some areas, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, which is why they are not just a symbol of the failed complot. Many people heat up soup for the crowds to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil and also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake called the parking cake that is eaten on Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very tasty.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make an effigy of a man and burn it. This effigy is made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes, it is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.

Traditions associated with the night of bonfires

Generally, Bonfire Night is a time when people parade in costumes and they also utilize flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers.

It is clear that this is a nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

The majority of the time, there is a firework display and a large bonfire.

What are you going to wear to the events?

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

It is an interesting approach to prepare for the events.

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

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here, and something to keep in mind.

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

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Nights?

Bonfires and fireworks are not the only things that can be celebrated at the Bonfire Night events.

There are lots of foods associated with the event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that are prepared around the 5th of November, and eaten throughout the country.

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

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 get together and enjoy some food.

Over the years, it has impressed many people.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that the event 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, Wrexham, Cymru / Wales, LL11 5PF, United Kingdom

Organiser: Southsea Bonfire Night