Sprowston Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Sprowston poster

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

What should you know about Sprowston's bonfire night?

An annual event over the years, the Bonfire Night is one of those incredible celebrations.

Why do people like these celebrations so much?

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

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is that it is a way to celebrate Bonfire Night.

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating bonfires ever since.

What happened at that time is that there was a lot of anger against the king, since many considered he was intolerant against the Catholics.

Robert and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to bring Catholicism back to it's rightful place.

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

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

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

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

The Parliament 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.

We went to the Bonfire Night due to that.

In places like Norfolk, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed.

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

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers because it was focused on having fun.

The 20th century event looked a lot like what we are experiencing today.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

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

There are many foods associated with the event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas and treacle toffee are 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.

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

Traditions associated with the night of bonfires

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

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

Most of the time, these Bonfire Night events are culminating with a firework display and a very large bonfire.

What should you wear for the Bonfire Night events?

Depending on where you live, people tend to dress up in a variety of costumes.

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

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

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

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

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

You're going to find 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, although smaller events also take place.

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 watch 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 are common:

  • The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team made to blow up the Parliament building.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a model of a man and burn it. This effigy is meant to represent Guy Fawkes, and it’s usually made out of straw or paper, all of it stuffed within old clothes.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take the 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.
  • There are firework displays throughout the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. But in general you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The bonfires are not meant just to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people make soup for the people watching the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The Parking Cake is a traditional cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.

Conclusion

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a staple event, and continues every year.

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

Over the years, it has impressed people.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there’s no denying that over the years Bonfire Night shifted towards being 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!

Sprowston Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Sprowston, Broadland, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Sprowston Bonfire Night