Totnes Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Totnes poster

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

What should you know about Totnes's bonfire night?

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event for a long time.

Why do people love these festivities?

Here’s a quick roundup to help you get up to speed with the Bonfire Night, its starting point and the reasons behind its amazing popularity.

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I and also tried to blow up the parliament in order to celebrate the failure of his attempt.

In 1605 this happened and people have celebrated the night ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since many thought he was against the Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to the rightful place.

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

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

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

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

The Parliament said that the conspirators were 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.

It eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in many places in the UK.

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

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers due to the focus on having fun.

As the 20th century went on, the event looked similar to what we are seeing today.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Nights?

As we mentioned earlier, the Bonfire Night events are not only a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are lots of things associated with this event.

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

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 other family members.

What should you wear to the events?

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

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

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

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

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

The UK has many amazing attractions and events.

Smaller events also take place in countryside regions too, although here you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being 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.

With some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember, you will also get to enjoy some great firework displays.

There are some traditions:

  • In the UK, it is very common for people to burn a homemade model of a man. This effigy is made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes, it is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The largest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. You can find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The bonfires are meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. People heat up soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • During Bonfire Night, flaming tar barrels are carried on the shoulders. This is a reference to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is very interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to the Bonfire Night to ask for money for fireworks. In some areas you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.

There are traditions associated with the evening of bonfires.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers at 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 but in a safe manner.

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

Conclusion

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

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

Over the years it has been one of those events that have impressed people.

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 many years to come!

Totnes Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Totnes, South Hams, Devon, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Totnes Bonfire Night