BONFIRE NIGHT!...THAT’S BRIT!?

Best Places in Britain to see Fireworks on Bonfire Night and traditional food ideas for the evening.

Remember remember the 5^th November,

Gunpowder, treason and plot,

I see no reason, why gunpowder treason,

Should ever be forgot.

I LOVE this night and get excited every year. We might not be as great as our fellow Americans on Halloween...but that’s because we’re waiting to go crazy 5 days later.

The 5^th November is celebrated throughout Britain all because of this guy...

GUY FAWKES:

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An English Catholic, who planned with a small group of others to kill King James 1^st by blowing up Parliament in 1605 with 36 barrels of gunpowder. (Obviously back then the Protestant Brits and Catholic Brits didn’t get on.) Since then bonfires have been made and dolls  that resemble Guy Fawkes have been thrown on top to burn. Fireworks and Bonfire Night Food have become another aspect of the evening.

CELEBRATIONS

So...where is best to go?

I’ve checked out a few places over the years but still plenty more to see. Here are 5 Great Places in Britain  to celebrate Bonfire Night:

1. Blackheath, London

One of the most impressive Firework displays in Britain, it has been celebrating for over 400 years and practice really does make perfect.

I know what you’re thinking and no its not a coincidence that the music goes so well with the display...it is choreographed to do that!

2. Battle, East Sussex

If you’re wanting the whole chabang, ie. Bonfire, Fireworks and a procession, Battle is the place to go.

Battle have been celebrating bonfire night for over 3 and a half centuries and have a torch lit procession through the town made up from over 30 bonfire societies.

                                                       

3. Lewes, Sussex

If you’re really wanting to see a great procession though, the best place to go is Lewes. They celebrate bonfire night and seventeen protestant martyrs who were killed during the reign of (Catholic) Queen Mary 1^st

The procession varies from symbols of parliament to burning crosses. 

4. Inverness, Highlands of Scotland

If you’re on the other side of Britain, Inverness is a great place to check out some spectacular displays.

Over 10,000 people visit to see the 20 minute display

5. Ottery St Mary, Devon

 If you’re looking to do something different, try Ottery St Mary-  this is the place you will see this sign



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And lots of this (burning barrels) 

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Remember, whilst you enjoy yourself, make sure you don’t forget the great treats associated with bonfire night too, here are some examples to help jog your memory and excite those taste buds:

toffee apples

toffee apple muffins

pumpkin soup (leftover from halloween)

Bonfire toffee

P.S. Don’t forget to be terribly British and check if your local stately home are doing anything. They often need support and have great shows.  Watching fireworks in the grounds of an old british house/castle ? ....Now THAT’S BRIT!?


For more information on Bonfire night check out bonfirenight.net, you can find a list of bonfire's to go to in London here and for some recipes go here