Tanfield Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Tanfield poster

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

What should you know about Tanfield's bonfire night?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has become an annual event and is one of those incredible festivities.

Why are people so fond of these festivities?

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

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is because it is a way to celebrate.

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

There was a lot of anger against the king due to the fact that he was seen as being against the Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to 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 because he was there.

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

The other conspirators were taken into custody once 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 was a day to be thankful.

It eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community-focused event despite its sinister origins.

The firework manufacturers decided to change the celebration's name to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century because they wanted to make it more fun.

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

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

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

There are a lot of foods associated with this event.

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

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

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

What are you going to wear for the events?

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

It is quite an interesting approach to prepare for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a good 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.

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

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

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

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

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:

  • The bonfires aren't just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. In fact, a lot of people heat up soup for the crowds coming by to see the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on the Bonfire Night. The cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • There is an interesting tradition 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 to buy 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.
  • It is common for people in the UK to make an effigy of a man and burn it. This effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothes.
  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays.
  • It 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, in an attempt to blow up the parliament building.

There are traditions associated with Bonfire Night.

People use flaming torches, fireworks, and sparklers during 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.

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

At the end

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

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

It’s certainly 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 the event has evolved over the years into a more community-friendly event.

Happiness and a good time are the most important parts of Bonfire Night, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come.

Tanfield Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Tanfield, Stanley, County Durham, North East, England, DH9 9PX, United Kingdom

Organiser: Tanfield Bonfire Night