Sunderland Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Sunderland poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Sunderland?

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

What is it that makes people love these celebrations so much?

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

What is the tradition of the Bonfire Night?

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

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

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

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

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

The plan was to assassinate the king during the process.

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

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

The Parliament made a public statement about the situation and shared that the conspirators had been caught and punished.

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November to be thankful for.

Which led to the Bonfire Night.

In the UK, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed all over the place.

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 because of its focus on having fun.

The 20th century event looked similar to what we are seeing today.

What should you wear to the Bonfire Night events?

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

It is an interesting approach in preparation for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great 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 typically the right way to go here.

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

There are attractions during the night.

You are going to find a lot of great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually 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-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 firework displays for a night to remember.

These are some traditions that are common:

  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade effigy of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of straws or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The bonfires aren't just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook a lot of food. Many people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil, as well as marshmallows and sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the eve of Bonfire Night. This cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • The biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays in the country. There are bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country.
  • There’s also a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans of Guy Fawkes and his team to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The tradition called "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting one. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to get some money for 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.

Traditions associated with the night of the bonfire.

People parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks, and sparklers 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, a celebration of independence.

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

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are many things associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are just 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, and these are eaten throughout the country.

Some families share their soups with friends and family members.

Bottom line

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

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

The event has impressed many people over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that over the years it has shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

The most important aspects of Bonfire Night are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come.

Sunderland Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Sunderland, Lancaster, Lancashire, England, LA3 3HR, United Kingdom

Organiser: Sunderland Bonfire Night