Bonfire Night is a traditional celebration in memory of Guy Fawkes, who on this day in 1605, was discovered attempting to blow up the houses of parliament.
Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason & plot
We see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot
The traditional burning of a great bonfire at this time, probably goes back much further than that to the Celtic Samhain or summers end, when there were harvesting celebrations, animals were brought in from the summer pastures and food was stored in preparation for the heralding of winter.
Don’t forget Garden Wildlife on Bonfire Night
With all the excitement of bonfire night don’t forget about the wildlife in your garden. Make sure the bonfire isn’t set up too far in advance, as hedgehogs and other small mammals will be looking for somewhere to hibernate at this time, and may find a pile of leaves and wood enticing. Why not provide hedgehogs with an alternative home like one of these Hogitats?
Place fireworks away from trees and hedges where birds may be roosting…. And when bonfire night is over, remember that now is an excellent time start feeding garden birds. We love this range of Bird Feeding Goodies so why not take a look.
Birds and bats will also be looking for warm places to roost as the weather gets colder. The Wooden Bat Box is perfectly designed for this and the Bird Nesting Pouch is always popular in our garden as an overnight roosting place at this time of year.
If you decide to tidy up the garden before your bonfire night party, leaves and other garden waste can be collected up in super quick time with the Green Hands Leaf Collectors. And if you don’t know what to do with all those leaves once you have them in a pile why not put them in a Leaf Composting Sack or Leaf Mould Compost Bin. With the helping hand of some Compost Magic they will break down nicely into a lovely rich leaf compost.
Activities for Bonfire Night
Make A Story Stick
People have been telling stories around the campfire since ancient times, and story sticks have perhaps been around for that long.
To make a story stick, find a sturdy stick and decorate it with coloured thread, ribbons or streamers. Pass the story stick around the campfire. Whoever holds the stick has a turn to speak and so adds a few sentences to the campfire story…In this way an interesting and original tale unfolds.
Make a Guy
A very traditional and endlessly appealing activity for children, make a guy by stuffing old clothes with straw and tying the ensemble together with string. Make a head from an old pillowcase and paint on a makeshift face.
Make a Bonfire Picture
Tear up thin strips of orange, red and yellow tissue paper and stick onto black card to make a bonfire. Use brown paper or pipe cleaners for the wood, and put star shaped stickers or sequins in the sky.
Make Edible Sparklers
Dip chocolate fingers into warm water and then into hundreds and thousands to make your very own edible sparklers
Ask an Adult to Roast some Food
An activity for adults only, take a selection of food, wrap in foil and roast on the burning embers of the bonfire. Ideas of suitable food include:
- Pre steamed corn on the cob with butter
- Mushrooms brushed with olive oil
- Garlic bread
- Chunks of pepper and aubergine
- Pre-cooked potatoes in garlic butter
Make some Children’s Punch
Take some warm apple juice and sprinkle in cinnamon for a warming drink
Make some Bonfire Toffee
You will need:
1 lb demerara sugar
1/3 pint water
1 ¼ oz butter
2 level tablespoons of golden syrup
1 teaspoon vinegar
Method
Put all the ingredients in a saucepan
Dissolve over a steady heat
Slowly bring to the boil and cook slowly
Drop ½ teaspoon of the mixture into a cup of cold water
If it sets hard it is done, if not cook for a little longer
Pour into an oiled or buttered tin
Break up when set
Make some Toffee Apples
Melt 1 tablespoon of butter with 2 large tablespoons of golden syrup
Add 1 large tablespoon of sugar and the juice of half a lemon
Allow the ingredients to boil to a deep toffee brown
Insert lollipop sticks into the apples
Dip each apple into the toffee mix
Dip into cold water
Place onto greaseproof paper to set
Make some Traditional Lancashire Parkin
You will need:
6 oz plain flour
1 teaspoon each of salt, ground ginger and ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
10 oz oatmeal
6 oz black treacle
5 oz butter
4 oz dark brown sugar
¾ pint milk
1 egg
Sift together flour, salt, spices and soda
Add oatmeal and mix
Heat the treacle, butter, sugar and milk together until the butter has melted
Cool slight, add the egg and beat well
Poor mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well until smooth
Turn into a greased baking tin
Bake at 175 C for around an hour
London’s Burning, London’s Burning
Fetch the engine, fetch the engine
Fire, Fire! Fire, Fire!
Pour on water, pour on water
Remember to always stay safe on Bonfire Night. Check advice from the fire service here.
Happy Bonfire Night
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