Todmorden Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Todmorden poster

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

What should you know about Todmorden's bonfire night?

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

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

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night with 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 that Bonfire Night is a way to celebrate.

The Bonfire Night was celebrated in 1605 and people have been celebrating 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 that an armed struggle would restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

These two and other supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

The king was in attendance and the plan was to assassinate him.

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

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

Which eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays there are Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

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 due to the focus being on having fun.

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

You will 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 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.

There are some common traditions:

  • A tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team made to blow up the Parliament building.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country have firework displays. But in general you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is very interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for the fireworks. There are kids that blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • 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 from straw or paper and stuffed into old clothes.
  • The bonfires are not just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook a lot of food. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people make soup for them. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, as well as marshmallows and sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on Bonfire Night. A cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle is very tasty.

Traditions related to the night of bonfires.

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

The failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, is a clear nod to this.

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

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Nights?

The events of the Bonfire Night are more than just a celebration with bonfires.

There are many foods associated with the event.

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

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

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

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

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

This is in preparation for the events.

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

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

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome, even if you don't have to dress up.

Summing up

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

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

It has impressed 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 parts of Bonfire Night are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this event to continue for years and years to come.

Todmorden Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Todmorden, Calderdale, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Todmorden Bonfire Night