Bonfire Night: History, Food and How to Host

People gathered around a bonfire at night

Bonfire Night is one of the best evenings of the British autumn. Cold air, the smell of woodsmoke, sparklers in gloved hands, fireworks bursting overhead and something hot to eat in a mug. It is a celebration with a dramatic history, and traditions that vary from village to village. This guide explains where it all began, the customs that grew up around it, what to cook and how to host your own evening safely.

The Gunpowder Plot

In 1605, a small group of Catholic conspirators, led by Robert Catesby, plotted to assassinate King James I by blowing up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament. They rented a cellar beneath the House of Lords and filled it with barrels of gunpowder, hidden under firewood.

The plot was betrayed. An anonymous letter warned a Catholic peer to stay away from Parliament, and the authorities searched the building. Around midnight on the night of 4 to 5 November, Guy Fawkes, who had been left to guard the gunpowder, was discovered in the cellar and arrested. He and the other surviving conspirators were tried and executed.

How the celebration began

Londoners lit bonfires to celebrate the King's survival, and in 1606 Parliament passed an Act that made 5 November an annual day of thanksgiving. The Act was repealed in the nineteenth century, but by then the bonfires, fireworks and gatherings had long become a tradition of their own.

The old rhyme still sums it up: "Remember, remember, the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot."

Traditions of Bonfire Night

Bonfires, built over the preceding days from fallen branches and wood.
The guy, a figure made from old clothes stuffed with newspaper, traditionally placed on top of the bonfire. Children once wheeled their guys through the streets asking for "a penny for the guy".
Fireworks, from small garden displays to large public shows.
Sparklers, writing names in the dark.
Bonfire societies. Some towns hold famous processions, the best known being in Lewes, East Sussex, where several bonfire societies parade through the streets in costume with burning torches.

What to eat on Bonfire Night

Bonfire Night food should be warming, filling and easy to eat outside with one hand, ideally from a mug or a napkin.

Jacket potatoes

The classic. Bake them in the oven until the skins are crisp, or wrap them in foil and push them into the hot embers at the edge of the fire for an hour or so, turning now and then. Split and fill with butter and grated cheese, beans or chilli.

Sausages

Good butcher's sausages, cooked in the oven or on a grill, served in soft rolls with fried onions and mustard.

Soup in mugs

A thick soup, such as pea and ham, leek and potato or spiced squash, made the day before, reheated and poured into mugs or flasks. Our handmade stoneware mugs hold the heat and warm cold hands.

Chilli or stew

A big pot of chilli, beef stew or sausage casserole, made ahead and kept warm on the hob, served in bowls with bread.

Parkin

A sticky, dark gingerbread made with oatmeal and black treacle, traditional in Yorkshire and Lancashire around Bonfire Night. It is best made several days ahead and kept in a tin, where it becomes stickier and better. A simple version melts butter, golden syrup and black treacle with brown sugar, then stirs in oatmeal, self-raising flour, ground ginger and an egg, and bakes slowly in a square tin.

Bonfire toffee and toffee apples

Bonfire toffee, also called treacle toffee, is a dark, brittle toffee made with black treacle. Toffee apples, coated in a hard red sugar shell, are a childhood favourite.

Marshmallows

If you have a fire pit, toast marshmallows on long sticks. Supervise children carefully.

Warm drinks

Hot chocolate, made with whole milk.
Mulled apple juice, warmed with cinnamon, cloves and orange slices.
A strong pot of tea in flasks. See how to make a proper pot of tea.

Hosting Bonfire Night at home

Plan ahead

Make soup, chilli and parkin the day before.
Lay out mugs, bowls, napkins and spoons near the back door.
Set up a serving table inside, by the door, so food stays warm and people can help themselves.

Keep everyone warm

Put blankets on every chair and bench, and keep a basket of spares by the door. A recycled wool tartan, like the Thomson Camel blanket, can go round shoulders or over knees. Ask guests to bring hats, gloves and proper boots, as grass will be wet and cold. Our guide to dressing for an autumn walk applies here too.

Serving outside

Lay sausages, rolls and potatoes on a large wooden board for people to help themselves. The General Store 50cm board is ideal.

Firework and bonfire safety

Only buy fireworks from a licensed retailer, check they carry the appropriate safety marking, and always follow the instructions on each firework.

Light fireworks at arm's length, using a taper, and stand well back.
Never go back to a firework once it has been lit, even if it seems to have gone out.
Keep a bucket of water nearby, and keep fireworks in a closed box.
Never throw fireworks or put them in pockets.
Give sparklers only to older children, with gloves, and put used sparklers hot end down in a bucket of water.
Build bonfires well away from houses, trees, fences and sheds, and never use petrol or paraffin to light them.
Check local rules on when fireworks may be set off.

Many families prefer to go to an organised public display, which is often the safest option, and come home to supper afterwards.

Looking after animals

Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs love to hibernate in piles of wood and leaves. Build your bonfire on the day you light it, or move the whole pile to a new spot just before lighting, and check carefully at the base.

Dogs and cats

Many pets are frightened by fireworks.

Walk dogs before dark.
Keep pets indoors with windows and curtains closed.
Play music or the radio to soften the bangs.
Give them a quiet den, such as their bed in a corner with a blanket over the top. See how to choose a dog bed.
Stay calm and behave normally; fuss can make anxiety worse.
If your dog is very anxious, talk to your vet well before the night.