With Halloween already behind us, we are now into November which means Bonfire Night is fast approaching. November 5, also known as Guy Fawkes Night, is often marked in Britain with fireworks displays and bonfires. But there are ways to celebrate Bonfire Night without fireworks.
When the sun goes down, excited Brits will don their hats and scarves and make their way to the local park where there may be a firework display. They will feast on candy apples and ‘smores, wave sparklers in the air, and stare up into the sky at the colours exploding above them.
However, fireworks aren’t for everyone. Tickets for firework night events can be expensive, you or your loved ones may not like the crowds or loud noises, or perhaps you have a pet at home who gets nervous. This doesn’t mean you can’t join in with firework night festivities at all as there are plenty of ways to celebrate at home.
Sparklers
You can pick these up from stores or online and they are a great way to have fun celebrating Bonfire Night outside with a dazzling display of your own. They are relatively cheap and can be moved around to create different shapes and patterns against the night sky.
Firework arts and crafts
This is a great way to enjoy the night whilst staying inside. An easy activity involves black card and colourful pens or pencils, so you can create your own display in a metaphorical night sky.
Glow sticks
Similar to sparklers (although slightly safer) glow sticks are a great way for children to enjoy firework night at home. They can run around in the garden and great their own colourful light shows with the sticks, and if you don’t have a garden, you can just turn off the lights in your house and the sticks will glow neon in the dark.
Making ‘smores
Even if you’re not having a bonfire you can join in with the festive foods by making your own smores at home. If you have a fire pit in your garden, perfect! If not, all you need is a gas stove. Toast marshmallows on sticks on a flame (whether that be your stove top or an outside bonfire) then squish them, along with some chocolate, in between two biscuits and enjoy the melty goodness. Make sure that, if you have children, you toast the marshmallows for them. We don’t want anyone getting hurt!
There are some great ‘smores recipes here.
Creating your own Guy Fawkes
This is a Bonfire Night favourite, and you may remember making a Guy Fawkes doll with your class in primary school. Essentially, it is just a scarecrow, which you can make with old clothes stuffed with newspaper. This is a fun activity that you can make with scrap items to get into the Bonfire Night spirit.