Wigan Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Wigan poster

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

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

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event for many years.

Why do people love these festivities so much, what does it mean?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the popularity of the Bonfire Night with a quick rundown.

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, and also to blow up the parliament.

This happened in 1605 and people have celebrated bonfires ever since.

At that time there was a lot of anger against the king since he was seen as being 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 people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

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

However, a conspiracy member ended up getting cold feet and he sent a letter to the parliament.

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

The Parliament shared the news that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided to make the 5th of November a day to be thankful for and therefore the tradition to light up bonfires.

Which eventually took us to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed throughout the UK in locations like Greater Manchester.

The origins of Bonfire Night are sinister, but over the years it has become a community event.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to "Bonfire Night or the Fireworks Night" because the focus is on having fun.

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

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night?

The Bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with fireworks.

There are lots of things associated with this event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November, which is when these are eaten throughout the country.

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

There are traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

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

It is 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.

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

What are you going to wear to the events?

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

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

The Bonfire Night is a great chance 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 wear a costume if you have a proper outfit that protects you from the cold weather.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

There are a lot of amazing 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 there are also smaller events.

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 get to see some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

These are some traditions that are common:

  • The bonfires are meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people cook soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake named the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade model of a man and burn it. 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.
  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest displays. There are bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. 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 homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for fireworks a few days before Bonfire Night. Kids blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.

In the end

Over time, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

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

Over the years, it has been one of those events that has 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.

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

Wigan Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Wigan Bonfire Night