Halloween and Bonfire Night in Britain

Yes, Britain does celebrate Halloween and has a range of related traditions. During Halloween, which takes place on October 31st, children often go trick-or-treating, knocking on residential doors in receipt of treats such as candy. Apple bobbing is another tradition, which involves trying to grab an apple from a bucket of water using your mouth. Pumpkin carving is also common, with these and other spooky decor being placed outside homes.  

There are many parties, celebrations, and ghost tours for adults too, offering an opportunity to dress-up and take part in the fun. Many cinemas will also run horror movies for those looking for a quieter experience.  

Halloween has been a tradition in Britain for over 2,000 years and stems from the Celtic festival Samhain. Samhain marked the beginning of winter and people believed at the time that the veil between the living world and the dead thinned, allowing spirits to roam among the living.  

Yes, Halloween is very widely celebrated in England with many shopfronts and residential homes displaying decor just for the occasion. If visiting during October, you’ll find many themed foods, events, and occasions to fully immerse you in what’s affectionately dubbed “spooky season”. 

Bonfire Night is a celebration of a failed plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London. Back in 1605, a group of plotters had planned to destroy the buildings, with members of parliament and King James I inside. Their plan was thwarted when one of the plotters, Guy Fawkes, was discovered in a cellar beneath the Palace of Westminster, alongside 36 barrels of gunpowder. Fawkes was promptly arrested and tortured until he gave up the names of his co-conspirators. He was then tried for treason and sentenced to death.

Bonfire Night is celebrated on 5 November each year to mark the anniversary of the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. A popular children’s nursery rhyme, also commemorates the event:

“Remember, remember the 5th of November,

Gunpowder, treason, and plot.

I see no reason,

Why gunpowder treason,

Should ever be forgot…”

Bonfire Night is usually celebrated with fireworks, bonfires, and sparklers. Traditionally, a dummy person is placed on top of a bonfire to represent Guy Fawkes. However, the practice is also thought to date back to the 13th century when it was seen as a way of driving away evil spirits.

The Yeoman of the Guard still search the cellars of the Houses of Parliament before it opens each November, a tradition dating back more than 400 years. One of the biggest bonfire celebrations is in the Sussex town of Lewes. However, one of the most spectacular events takes place in Ottery St Mary, in Devon, where village folk race around its narrow streets carrying flaming barrels of tar.

Bonfire Night is sometimes referred to as Guy Fawkes Night, taking the name of one of the plotters who attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605.

There are many ways to celebrate Bonfire Night in Britain. You can find firework shows and bonfire displays across the country, from larger festivals to local events. Celebrations are mostly outside so it is best to wrap up warm with hats, scarves, and gloves. Pick up a delicious hot chocolate or choose to toast marshmallows for a tasty way to stay warm.