Southway Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Southway poster

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

What information is important to know about Southway's Bonfire Night?

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

Why do people love these celebrations so much?

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

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

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 the UK.

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

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

Robert and Guy were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

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

The king was present so the plan was to kill him.

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

The other conspirators were taken into custody when they learned about the plan.

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

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November in order to be thankful.

Which led to the Bonfire Night.

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

Despite the fact that its origins are sinister, the event has become a community focused event over the years.

The firework manufacturers decided to change the celebration's name to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century because the focus was on having fun.

The 20th century event looked similar to what we are experiencing today.

Traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers when they parade in costumes on Bonfire Night.

It is obvious that this is a nod to the failed attempt by Guy Fawkes and his band to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

Most of the time, these events end with a firework display and a big bonfire.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

The UK has many amazing attractions and events.

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

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

You will also 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 used to cook all kinds of food, even though they are only meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people heat up soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. Some even cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, but also marshmallows or sausages as well. The traditional parking cake is eaten on the Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • Another interesting tradition comes in the form of “Penny for the Guy”. Kids used to take 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 about to blow up the Parliament.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a model of a man and then burn it. The effigy is usually made from straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the biggest displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find firework displays and bonfires.
  • During Bonfire Night, flaming tar barrels are carried on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only thing going on.

There are many foods associated with this event.

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

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

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

What should you wear to the events?

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

This approach is quite interesting, and it is in preparation 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 usually the right way to go.

You don't have to dress up in a costume, but a proper outfit that protects you from the cold weather is more than welcome.

At the end

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a yearly event.

It is a great time for people to relax and enjoy some great food.

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.

Southway Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Southway, Sidmouth, East Devon, Devon, England, EX10 8JL, United Kingdom

Organiser: Southway Bonfire Night