Wigston Magna Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Wigston Magna poster

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

What should you know about Wigston Magna's bonfire night?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event.

Why do people love these festivals so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity by reading this quick rundown.

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is that he was celebrating the failure of the parliament.

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 he was seen as being against the Catholics.

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

The supporters came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

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

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

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

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

The 5th of November was chosen by the Parliament to be a day to be thankful for.

We made our way to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays there are Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

Over the years it has become a community focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister.

The celebration was renamed to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century due to the focus on having fun.

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

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with bonfires.

There are many different foods associated with this event.

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

These are eaten all over the country, and some regions have their own special meals prepared for the 5th of November.

It is important to note that some families eat soup and share it with friends.

Bonfire Night attractions

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

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

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

There are some traditions:

  • 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.
  • The bonfires are not only meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people cook soup for them. Some people cook potatoes in a foil, but also marshmallows or sausages. The Parking Cake is a traditional cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. A cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle is very tasty.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for the fireworks a few days before the Bonfire Night. In some regions you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • 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 into old clothes.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his group had to blow up the Parliament building.

What are you going to wear for the events?

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

This approach is quite interesting and is in preparation for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a good 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.

It is not necessary to dress up in a costume to protect yourself against the cold weather.

Traditions associated with the evening of bonfires.

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

This is a clear nod to the failed attempt by Guy Fawkes and his band to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence, but in a safe manner.

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

Summing up

Every year, Bonfire Night continues as a staple event.

It is a great time for people to get together and enjoy some great foods.

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 become 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 a long time.

Wigston Magna Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Wigston, Oadby and Wigston, Leicestershire, England, LE18 1DT, United Kingdom

Organiser: Wigston Magna Bonfire Night