Stratford Upon Avon Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Stratford Upon Avon poster

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

What information is important to know about Stratford Upon Avon's Bonfire Night?

The annual event that has been adopted as an annual event is the Bonfire Night.

Why do people love these events?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night 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 and also blow up the parliament in the UK.

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

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

At that time, Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics with the vision that only an armed struggle would reinstate Catholicism to the rightful place.

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

There was a plan to assassinate the king because he was in attendance.

A member of the conspiracy got cold feet and sent a letter to the parliament.

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

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

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

Which eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities all over the UK.

Despite the fact that Bonfire Night's origins are sinister, it has become a community focused event over the years.

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

The event of the 20th century looked a lot like what we are seeing today.

What should you wear to the event?

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

In preparation for the events, this is quite an interesting approach.

The Bonfire Night is a good time for most people to show off their winter wardrobe.

Something to keep in mind is that a winter knit with a classical touch is the best way to go here.

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome and you don't have to dress up in a costume.

Bonfire Night attractions

You will find a lot of amazing 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, but there are also smaller events.

It's become a community-focused event for a lot of people because everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You will 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:

  • "Penny for the Guy" is a tradition. A few days before the Bonfire Night, kids used to take the homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to ask for some money for the fireworks. In some regions you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was planning to blow up the Parliament.
  • There are firework displays all over the country. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and amazing firework displays all over the country.
  • There’s also a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, to blow up the Parliament building.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even though they are only meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. People heat up soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. It is possible to cook potatoes wrapped in a foil as well as marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake named the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.

Traditions associated with the night.

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as it was a celebration of independence.

The majority of the time, these events include a firework display and large bonfire.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are many different foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are some of the items 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.

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

At the end

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

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

It is one of those 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 has evolved into 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.

Stratford Upon Avon Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Stratford-upon-Avon, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Stratford Upon Avon Bonfire Night