St Albans Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in St Albans poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in St Albans?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event.

Why do people love these things so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the popularity of the Bonfire Night here.

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is because he wanted to blow up the parliament.

In 1605 this happened, and people have been celebrating Bonfire Nights ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since many thought he was against the Catholics.

There was a vision that only an armed struggle would bring Catholicism back to its rightful place.

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

The king was in attendance and so the plan was to kill him.

The member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament.

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

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

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November because it is a day to be thankful.

We decided to go to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in many locations in the UK.

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

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers due to the focus being on having fun.

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

The 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.

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.

The majority of the time, these Bonfire Night events end with a firework display and a large bonfire.

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

There are many amazing attractions and events in the UK.

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

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night is now 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.

There are some traditions that are common:

  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a fictional character. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper and stuffed into old clothes.
  • Another interesting tradition comes in the form of “Penny for the Guy”. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money to buy fireworks. In some areas you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country get some of the largest displays for firework displays. There are bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The bonfires are not just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook a lot of food. A lot of people cook soup for the crowds that come by to watch 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 the night of Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • There’s also a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plan that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.

What should you wear?

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

This is in preparation for the events, and it’s quite an interesting approach.

The Bonfire Night is a great opportunity for people to show off their winter clothing.

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 though you don't have to dress up.

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night?

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

There are a lot of things associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are all associated with Bonfire Night.

Some regions have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November, which is when these are eaten throughout the country.

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

At the end

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

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

People have been impressed by it over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that over the years 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 a long time.

St Albans Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: St Albans Bonfire Night