Springwell Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Springwell poster

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

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

Every year, the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event.

Why do people love the festivities so much?

Here’s a quick roundup to help you get up to speed with the Bonfire Night, its starting point and the reasons behind its amazing popularity.

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

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

In 1605 people celebrated the Bonfire Night.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was considered to be racist 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Which, eventually, led us to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed throughout the UK in locations like Somerset.

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

The focus is on having fun, which is why the celebration was rebranded at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to Bonfire Night or the Fireworks Night.

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

There are traditions associated with Bonfire Night.

People parade in costumes and 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, a celebration of independence, but in a safe manner.

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

You will find a lot of amazing 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.

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 see 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 that exist:

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

What should you wear?

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

This approach is quite interesting and in preparation for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a good time for 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, because you don't have to dress up in a costume.

Which foods are popular during the night?

The events of the Bonfire Night are more than just a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are many things associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee are just 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 for the 5th of November.

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

In the end

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

It’s a great opportunity for people to reconnect, celebrate and also enjoy some amazing foods.

Over the years, it has been one of those events that have impressed people.

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

Springwell Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Springwell, Netherclay, Bishop's Hull, Taunton, Somerset West and Taunton, Somerset, England, TA1 5EE, United Kingdom

Organiser: Springwell Bonfire Night