For 400 years, bonfires have burned on the 5th November to mark the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, to blow up the Houses of Parliament and King James, the first King of Great Britain, with 36 barrels of gunpowder. Soon afterwards the use of fireworks were added to the celebrations.
An Act of Parliament was passed to appoint the 5th November as a day of thanksgiving for ‘the joy of deliverance’
Preparations for Bonfire Night include making a dummy of Guy Fawkes, which is called ‘the Guy’ and children used to ask for 1p for the Guy to use the money to buy fireworks.
There is a well known rhyme to accompany the day: Remember, Remember! The 5th of November, Gunpowder, treason and plot, I see no reason, why the gunpowder treason, Should ever be forgot!
Bonfire or Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated all over the UK. In recent years it is becoming more popular at organised events rather than home bonfires and fireworks mainly because of all the accidents and incidents and the strain it often puts on the Fire Service, who advice people now to ensure a safer, enjoyable evening.
On the night itself, the Guy is put on the top of the bonfire that is then set alight, fireworks fill the sky and in the region I’m from people eat; creamy tomato soup; jacket potatoes with cheese melted inside; sausage rolls; fruity red cabbage; toffee apples; toad in the hole; or hot sausages and fried onions in a bun.
It’s often very chilly, and as the night draws in around 5pm to 5:30pm it’s very dark which is perfect for the early firework displays.
Well I am off out now to our local organised bonfire display so I hope there are some great snacks on sale 🙂
A great British tradition.
Every time I see your little piggy in his wellies it makes me chuckle. It’s good that it’s mild nothing worse than a soggy Bonfire night.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Very nice event and very interesting. What are toad in the hole ? Hope you’ve find good and great snacks :-)) beautifull night Charlotte
A ‘toad in the hole’ is sausages in a Yorkshire pudding mixture (flour, eggs, milk, salt and pepper). Very easy to make J You should try it, it tastes lovely.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I gone try ! Thank you Charlotte
This looks delish. Yummy!!!!
I really enjoy hearing of the customs in England. You also give us a glimpse of life we would never see even if we visited. Thanks.
I was hoping to get some photographs of the event too but we were delayed getting there because my brother injured his wrist doing sport and we didn’t stay for the fun fair because it started swelling up.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I love hearing about that which I have known so little of… thank you for enlightening us AND I too, hope you found something tasty to enjoy during the bonfire festivities!
We had some warm soup and a hot sausage roll which are always nice to eat outside when its chilly 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
🙂 “Remember, remember the 5th of November….” Enjoy your local organized bonfire party!
There was a fun fair there which is a good idea for people to make a bit more of an evening of it.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I hope you enjoyed your fireworks tonight, Charlotte.
I did thanks Clare even though we had to bring the evening to a close a bit earlier than we’d planned.
Best wishes
Charlotte
You are so beautiful.
How kind thank you TJ hope you’re well.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you for sharing this celebration in UK.
I wanted more photos but they didn’t come out well enough on my phone.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I miss Guy Falkes night. I used to live in New Zealand and whilst there it was duly celebrated.
I recall the field behind my home. It was surrounded on all sides by houses, and everyone in the community used to meet there. I still recall the people on the other side of our street cutting through our yard to get to it, and the blazing bonfire would be an excuse for all the broken bits of furniture to be thrown on the bonfire and any bits of timber the men did not want we’re added.
The fireworks were fantastic to my mind, and the fun that was had as the other children and myself would play and play until exhausted.
I can never recall walking into the house afterwards, and I’m fairly certain that I just crashed out each time and Dad would have carried me to bed, where Mum would have tucked me in.
Thank you for bri OMG back a flood of truly enjoyable memories. 🌹
I must admit I missed my sparklers, I always used to remember putting my gloves on and making circles in the air and hearts with a sparkler. I love that my post brought back such lovely memories for you.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you Charlotte.
Sparklers were my favourite too. The best fun, and something to really look forward too. Luckily sparklers are available in Australia so I still get to play with them.
Kindest regards,
Trixie Vardon
Good luck
Thanks Amritpal, my brother Tom had a bit of bad luck and sprained his wrist so I had to take him home and nurse him better.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Is it really only 1p? Penny for the guy was what we did as kids when it was 1d (pre 1971). And we had our own fireworks in the back garden. Dad was very safety conscious. Organised displays are more spectacular but I miss the small family show.
He he, you know I’ve not seen anyone collect money for the guy since I was little and we sat at the edge of our driveway with one, even though we shouted penny for the guy most people gave us more. We never had a bonfire but we used to have a box of fireworks when we were little then we started to go to displays.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I hope you enjoyed your Bonfire Night, Charlotte! I had no idea, even from living in the UK before, that food was traditionally involved, but now that we’re back, I suggested to my sister that she make the blackberry-apple flapjack crumble she’s been thinking about to celebrate the first Guy Fawkes Day since our return–I guess it’s close enough to toffee apples? I hope you had some treats that tasted half so wonderful as hers; it was the best crumble I ever had! She should be putting the recipe on her blog in a week or so, at http://www.thelassintheapron.com, so take a look!
All the best,
Cate
I will check her post out Cate my Dad loves crumble preferably with very sweet apples.
Best wishes
Charlotte
We attended a bonfire night when we lived in England. It was a fun and special event. Enjoy yours!
It was great fun with lots going on, but we ended up cutting the evening short as my brother Tom hurt his wrist.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Very informative and captivative.. !!
Thank you, I love old traditions and this is one of my favourites 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Indeed that is one of the great tradition.. I also like it☺ Enjoy!!
Hope you had fun!
Sounds like such a wonderful night and a tradition. I hope you enjoyed the evening. Is it me or do you get prettier every time I see another post if yours? I hope all is well across the pond. Cheers
Wish you a great bonfire night ~ this part of English history always fascinates me. Love the opening photo as well, very beautiful. Enjoy the weekend!
Growing up in Scotland, we had two “Bonfire Nights” We had, of course, the bonfire and fireworks on the 5th November, but my mother’s birthday was on 6th November, so my dad organized a second bonfire with more fireworks. Long after we had all grown up and some moved away, we never forgot Mum’s Birthday on 6th November.
Interesting history. I had heard of “Guy Fawkes” day and now know what it is about.Bonfire day is easier to remember.
good afternoon charlo