Swindon Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Swindon poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Swindon?

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

What does it mean to people and why do they love these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night by reading this 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 while also attempting to blow up the parliament.

This happened in 1605 and people have celebrated the night ever since.

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

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

The two people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The plan was to kill the king while he was there.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament but ended up cold feet.

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

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

The 5th of November was chosen by the Parliament to be a day to be thankful for.

Which eventually led to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed throughout the UK in locations like Wiltshire.

Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister.

The firework manufacturers decided to change the celebration's name to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century because the focus was on having fun.

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

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

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

There are a lot of foods associated with the event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals to be prepared around the 5th of November.

Some families eat soup and share it with friends and family.

There are traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

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

It is obvious that this is a nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

There are lots of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

Food and drinks are shared with the community at smaller events that take place in countryside regions.

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

You will also get to see some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

There are some common traditions:

  • The bonfires are also used to cook all kinds of food, which is why they are not just a symbol of the failed complot. Many people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of bonfire. There is a cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had for blowing up the Parliament building.
  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to Bonfire Night to ask for 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 preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country have some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find amazing firework displays and bonfires.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade model of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper, stuffed with old clothes, and meant to represent Guy Fawkes.

What are you going to wear to the events?

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

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

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

Something to remember is that a winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here.

You don't have to dress up in a costume, but a proper outfit that protects you from the cold weather is more than welcome.

At the end

Every year, Bonfire Night continues to become a staple event.

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

It is one of those events that have impressed people over the years.

Even if the origins of the event are a bit darker, there is no denying that over the years it has become 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 many years to come.

Swindon Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Wiltshire Avenue, Cheney Manor, Central Swindon North, Swindon, England, SN2 1NY, United Kingdom

Organiser: Swindon Bonfire Night