Bonfire Night: the night of bonfires on November 5th

Every November 5th, at nightfall, bonfires are lit in gardens, parks, and village squares all over England. The sky fills with fireworks, children wave sparklers, and people gather around the fire with a hot drink. This is Bonfire Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Night.

A plot foiled in 1605

It all began with the Gunpowder Plot. In 1605, a group of conspirators planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London during the opening session, in the presence of King James I. On the night of November 4th to 5th, Guy Fawkes was arrested in a cellar beneath the House of Lords, next to barrels of gunpowder. To celebrate the king's survival, Londoners lit bonfires. The tradition has never died out. Children still learn the rhyme that begins with "Remember, remember the fifth of November."

Fire, the "guy," and fireworks

At the top of the bonfire, a "guy" is often placed—a mannequin made of old clothes stuffed with paper—which burns with the fire. Then comes the fireworks display, organized by the town or set off in the garden. The evenings are cold in early November: people stay bundled up, a mug of Cadbury hot chocolate in hand.

Treacle toffee, the sweetness of Bonfire Night

It's impossible to talk about November 5th without mentioning treacle toffee, also called bonfire toffee. It's a hard, almost black toffee made with Lyle's black treacle , a thick molasses with a strong, slightly bitter flavor. It's broken into irregular pieces with a hammer and sticks deliciously to your teeth. For those who prefer ready-made toffee, Walker's Nonsuch English Toffees are a great alternative.

The parking lot, the cake of the North

In Yorkshire and Lancashire, they eat parkin: a soft cake made with rolled oats , black treacle, golden syrup , and ginger. It tastes best a few days after baking, when it becomes sticky. It's therefore prepared in advance and cut into squares to be served around the fire.

Toffee apples

Toffee apples, apples coated in a crunchy red caramel and skewered on a stick, are another sweet treat of the evening. They can be found at autumn fairs as well as in gardens on the evening of November 5th.

Celebrate Bonfire Night at home

No need to go to great lengths to enjoy them: an evening with friends, a baking sheet, a few pieces of toffee, and some hot drinks are all you need. Find all our caramel treats in the Fudges and Toffees section.