Spennymoor Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Spennymoor poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Spennymoor?

The annual celebration of the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event over the years.

But what does it mean to people and why do they love them so much?

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

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, and also to blow up the parliament.

Since 1605 people have celebrated Bonfire Night.

There was a lot of anger against the king, due to the fact that he was against Catholics.

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

Some people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

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

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

The other conspirators were also taken into custody after they learned of the plan.

The parliament shared that the conspirators were caught and punished.

Also, the Parliament chose to declare the 5th of November as a day to be thankful for, and hence the tradition to light up bonfires.

We went to the Bonfire Night after that.

Throughout the UK, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed.

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

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century because of its focus on having fun.

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked similar to what we are experiencing today.

There are traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence, but in a safe manner.

Most of the time, these Bonfire Night events include a firework display and a large bonfire.

Bonfire Night attractions

There are a lot of great attractions and events in 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.

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

These are some traditions that are common:

  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. Many people heat up soup for the crowds to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the eve of Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of straws or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an effort to blow up the Parliament building.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is one of the more interesting traditions. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for fireworks a few days before Bonfire Night. Kids blackened their faces in some parts of the country, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • Some of the largest fireworks displays can be found in the biggest cities in the country. There are bonfires and amazing firework displays all over the country.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

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

There are a lot of foods associated with this event.

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

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

Some families eat soup and share it with friends and family.

What should you wear to the Bonfire Night events?

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

This approach is in preparation for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a good 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 travel here.

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

Summing up

Every year, there is a staple event called Bonfire Night.

It is a great time for people to celebrate and eat amazing food.

Over the years, it has been one of the most impressive events.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that the event has evolved into 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 many years to come!

Spennymoor Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Spennymoor, County Durham, North East, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Spennymoor Bonfire Night