Fascinating facts and awesome ideas ready for bonfire night
Love it or hate it Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night as it’s more commonly known, has become a popular event in our diaries. Something about standing around a massive blazing bonfire whilst wrapped up in winter woollies and chatting with friends oozes appeal.
As long as it is not raining, standing outside in the pitch black with nothing but a bonfire and sparklers to provide light is a great way to spend the evening on the 5th of November, as long as you are with some great friends and family, going to your local bonfire night can be a fun filled experience. Everyone waits for the main event – the firework display! The bright colours and patterns the fireworks make in the sky are mesmerising and never cease to amaze – no matter how old you are.
The shops are starting to fill with sparklers and fireworks so with this in mind here are some facts about Guy Fawkes Night you might be interested to hear about.
A man named Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up King James 1st by placing barrels full of gun powder under the Houses of Parliament. Luckily for the King and his leaders, Guy Fawkes was discovered and arrested, the trail of explosive gun powder was never ignited.
The celebration on the 5th November is because King James wasn’t assassinated, locals were encouraged to light bonfires in order to celebrate, and the tradition has stuck many years later. Many people make their own Guy out of old clothes, straw and paper to put on top of the bonfire whilst an impressive firework display provides some loud and colourful entertainment.
Many towns and villages host their own individual celebrations- you can definitely feel the community spirit with these events. On the 5th November Ottery St Mary in Devon holds the exciting event of tar barrel rolling which involves covering barrels with tar which are then set alight and carried through the town. Many people frown upon this tradition stating that it is far too dangerous, however this doesn’t seem to dampen the spirits of the locals who carry the barrels with pride. This event caters for all the ages of the villagers, the smaller junior barrels are lit in the afternoon, and the sizes of the barrels increase to around 30kilos for the biggest barrel which is lit at midnight. This really is a wonderful tradition which brings locals together and strengthens the heart of rural communities.
Another event which deserves a mention occurs in Battle, East Sussex, here around 30 bonfire societies dress up in costumes and march through the town. Anyone is welcome to join the procession as long as they are in fancy dress, so this is the perfect chance to really let your imagination run wild and dress to impress. You definitely get the feeling of “the more the merrier” with this event as participation is encouraged.
Fireworks are nothing new, they are said to have originated from China around 2,000 years ago. The reason behind those magical displays were also much more than just providing an evenings entertainment. They were traditionally used to warn away any evil spirits and ghosts that might be lurking, apparently the loud noises scare away any nasties that could ruin good fortune. On a more positive note, people in China also set off fireworks on special occasions such as birthdays, births, and New Year.
Nobody wants to be a kill joy, but fireworks are dangerous if they are not handled in the correct and appropriate manner. It is always worth reading instructions if you plan to use fireworks for a display at home.
Every bonfire night brings accidents, some minor, but others as serious as 3rd degree burns or even death. A&E rooms across the country find themselves extremely busy around the 5th November with people of all ages being brought in to receive treatment for accidents involving fireworks. Just to prove how common these kinds of accidents are in 2007 over 7,000 people were treated for burns from firework accidents, I can’t imagine how painful this must have been for those people. The golden rule is to be safe, read the instructions thoroughly and be careful especially if there are young children around. Even sparklers can cause harm if not handled correctly, just to prove how hot they can become three lit sparklers generate the same heat as a blow torch! So definitely advisable to keep well away from young children.
If you are a pet owner you will want to protect your four legged friends and keep the happy. Bonfire night is a night that can cause distress to your pet, with the loud noises and bright flashing lights it’s enough to send any cat or dog hiding behind the sofa. There are many sites around which provide helpful advice on how to keep your pets stress levels down and keep them happy. The RSPCA website has a wonderful article called “Protect your pet from firework fear” which aims to give all pet owners handy and helpful advice on how to protect your furry companions around the 5th November.
Some people even buy their pets ear muffs to help drown out the loud noises from the fireworks on bonfire night. Barking mad or a great idea – you decide!
Even though you can buy fireworks in supermarkets and shops there are some rules which some people may not know. If you are caught misusing fireworks you could be stung with an on the spot £80 fine, not something you want when you should be out enjoying yourself. Also if you cause any unnecessary harm to animals – yes some twisted people do – you could face a jail sentence or a fine £20,000. It is upsetting but the RSPCA does receive some animals in a terrible state all inflicted by cruel people. The RSPCA urges people to call the 24 hour hotline for advice or if they see any signs of animal cruelty on 0300 1234 999.
Now onto a more positive aspect of bonfire night! Like with any occasion food and drink is a must! So this year why not create some gorgeous nibbles and drinks and invite a few friends over before heading out to watch a firework display. A popular drink to warm up during those winter months is mulled wine full of autumn fruits. You could even take a supply in a thermos flask to keep you warm whilst watching the fireworks! Roasted chestnuts are also another wonderful light bite to keep your guests happy. Mainly associated with Christmas, roasted chestnuts are also a much loved and easy snack for bonfire night. There are many websites around for all you budding chefs out there, if you are feeling adventurous why not go one step further and make a hearty meal for some close friends and family? This will definitely make your bonfire night one to remember. Consult cook books or alternatively check out the internet for some recipe inspiration, the Good Food, and Silver Nut Meg websites can point you in the right direction for some great seasonal foods.
If you adore fireworks and would like to learn more about them, their history and other interesting facts then The Fireworks Magazine is an ideal read. Published twice a year in February and July, firework enthusiasts can learn all about displays, interesting facts and figures, and the origins and history of fireworks. This specialist magazine is a great way to learn all about fireworks and different celebrations that use them.
These are just a few facts about bonfire night and some ideas to hopefully inspire you to make this 5th of November go with a bang. Have an amazing evening however you decide to celebrate Guy Fawkes night, just remember to stay safe.
