Upton Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Upton poster

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

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

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

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 reading this quick list.

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 been celebrating bonfires ever since.

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

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed that only an armed struggle would restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

Some people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The plan was to kill the king because he was in attendance.

A conspiracy member got cold feet after sending a letter to the parliament.

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

The Parliament made a statement about the situation and shared that the conspirators were punished.

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

Which, eventually, led us to the Bonfire Night.

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

Despite the fact that the origins of the event are sinister, it has become a community focused event over the years.

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

In the 20th century, the event looked similar to what we are experiencing today.

There are attractions during the night.

There are a lot of great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, but smaller events also take place.

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 be able to enjoy some great firework displays with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

Common traditions are here:

  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the biggest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you will find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country.
  • 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.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had in order to blow up the parliament building.
  • The bonfires are supposed 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. It's possible to cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake called the parking cake that is eaten on Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, similar to a scarecrow. This effigy is meant to represent Guy Fawkes, and it’s usually made out of straw or paper, all of it stuffed within old clothes.

What should you wear?

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

This approach is quite interesting and is being prepared for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great 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 usually the right way to go here in winter.

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

Traditions associated with the night.

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as it was a celebration of independence.

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

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are only part of the celebration.

There are many foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are all 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 eat soup and share it with other family members.

Bottom line

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a staple event and continues every year

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 impressed people.

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

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!

Upton Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Upton, Hinckley and Bosworth, Leicestershire, England, CV13 6JX, United Kingdom

Organiser: Upton Bonfire Night