Walsall Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Walsall poster

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

What should you know about Walsall's bonfire night?

Every year, the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event.

What does it mean to people and why do they love these festivities so much?

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

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.

In 1605 this happened and people have celebrated Bonfire Night ever since.

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

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed that an armed struggle would bring Catholicism back to it's rightful place.

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

The plan was to kill the king while he was there.

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

After they learned about the plan, the other conspirators were taken into custody.

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

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

We traveled to the Bonfire Night.

Throughout the UK, there are Bonfire Night activities.

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

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to "Bonfire Night" 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 for the Bonfire Night events?

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

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

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

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

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.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

Bonfires and fireworks are not the only things that can be celebrated at the Bonfire Night events.

There are lots of foods associated with the event.

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

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

It is important to note that some families share their soups with other family members.

Bonfire Night attractions

You are going to find a lot of amazing things to do in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, 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 get to see some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

Common traditions are here:

  • Another interesting tradition comes in the form of “Penny for the Guy”. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in a bid to get some money for fireworks. Kids blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • During Bonfire Night, flaming tar barrels are carried on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the parliament building.
  • 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 the people who come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on the night of the bonfire. The cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • The biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays. But in general you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw, and stuffed with old clothes.

Traditions associated with the night.

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

It's clear that this is a nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

Most of the time, there is a large bonfire and a firework display.

In the end

Every year, there is a staple event called Bonfire Night.

It is a great time for people to connect, celebrate and eat amazing foods.

The event has impressed many people over the years.

Even if the origins of the event are a bit darker, there is no denying that the event has evolved into 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 years and years to come.

Walsall Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Walsall, West Midlands Combined Authority, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Walsall Bonfire Night