Swarcliffe Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Swarcliffe poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Swarcliffe?

The Bonfire Night has become an annual event over the years because of it's incredible festivities.

But what is it that makes people love these celebrations so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night with this quick list.

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I is that it is a way to celebrate the failure of that attempt.

In 1605 this happened, and people have celebrated the Bonfire Night ever since.

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

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

Two people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The king was in attendance, so the plan was to kill him 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 statement about the situation and shared that the conspirators had been caught and punished.

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

We went to the Bonfire Night.

The UK has a lot of Bonfire Night activities.

Over the years it has become a community focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century because of the focus on having fun.

The event looked similar to what we are experiencing today as the 20th century progressed.

The Bonfire Night has traditions associated with it.

During Bonfire Night people use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers.

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.

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

You are bound to find some amazing attractions and events throughout the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, as well as smaller events.

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 be able to enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

These are some traditions that are common:

  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a model of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper and stuffed into old clothes.
  • The bonfires are not meant to be just 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 coming by to see the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil, but also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. There is a cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting one. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street to ask for money for fireworks a few days before the Bonfire Night. In some parts of the world you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country have large firework displays. You are bound to find firework displays and bonfires all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • There's a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in order to blow up the parliament building.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are lots of foods associated with the event.

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

These are eaten all over the country, and some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November.

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

What should you wear for the Bonfire Night events?

Depending on where they live, people tend to dress up in various costumes.

This approach is in preparation for the events.

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

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 from the cold weather is more than welcome, even if you don't have to wear a costume.

At the end

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 eat amazing foods.

Over the years, it's one of those events that have impressed people.

Even if the origins of the event are a bit darker, there is no denying that the event 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 to continue for years and years to come.

Swarcliffe Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Swarcliffe, Scholes, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, LS14 5LQ, United Kingdom

Organiser: Swarcliffe Bonfire Night