Totton Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Totton poster

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

What information is important to know about Totton's Bonfire Night?

An annual event over the years, the Bonfire Night is one of those incredible celebrations.

So why do people love these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity with a quick overview.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

The main reason why Bonfire Night exists in the UK is because it’s 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 been celebrating it ever since.

There was a lot of anger against the king due to the fact he was against the Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who wanted an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

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

The plan was to assassinate the king because he was there.

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

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

The Parliament made a public statement stating that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided that the 5th of November would be a day to be thankful for.

Which led to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities can be found throughout the UK.

Despite the fact that Bonfire Night's origins are sinister, it has become a community event over the years.

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

The event of the 20th century looked similar to what we are seeing today.

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

Depending on where you live, people tend to dress up in different costumes.

This approach is in preparation for the events.

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

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go, and something to keep in mind.

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

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

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared by the community.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night has become a community-focused event where everyone has a good 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 fireworks for a night to remember.

Here are some traditions:

  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even if they are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people heat up soup for people to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The traditional parking cake is eaten on the Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • The biggest cities in the country get the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you will find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an effort to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take the homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for the fireworks. In some areas you can find kids that blackened their faces, 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 model of a man and burn it in effigy. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw, stuffed with old clothes, and is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.

Which are the most popular foods during Bonfire Night?

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

There are lots of foods associated with the event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that are prepared around the 5th of November as well.

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

Traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

People wear costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks, and sparklers during Bonfire Night.

It's clear that this is a 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.

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

In the end

Every year, Bonfire Night becomes a staple event.

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

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

Even if the origins of the event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it has evolved into a more community-friendly event over the years.

The most important parts of the event are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this to continue for years and years to come.

Totton Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Totton, Totton and Eling, Testwood, New Forest, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Totton Bonfire Night