As the nights draw in, lots of us around the UK look forward to enjoying Guy Fawkes’ Night - gathering around a warm bonfire with food and drink and watching fireworks displays fill the night sky. But how did this tradition begin, and what can we do to make our current celebrations more sustainable?
The ‘Real’ Bonfire Night of 1605
Bonfire Night is celebrated on the 5th of November each year, in honour of the ‘Gunpowder Plot’ of 1605, when Guy Fawkes led a group of Catholics to blow up the Houses of Parliament as revenge for poor treatment from King James I. This plot was thwarted, however, and the King decided that his survival should be celebrated with a bonfire on the 5th of November, a tradition which has carried on ever since.
Drawing depicting Guy Fawkes’ arrest for his Gunpowder Plot in 1605, obtained from English Heritage, © Pictorial Press Ltd and Alamy Images.
Tradition in the way we celebrate
The way in which we celebrate has changed a lot through the years. Originally, Parliament passed the ‘Observance of the 5th November Act’, also known as the Thanksgiving Act. This act kept the day free for Public Thanksgiving to God and made attendance at church mandatory, ensuring special provisions to make this possible. Traditionally, children would ask around in the days leading up to Bonfire Night for a ‘Penny for the Guy’ so that they could create straw effigies (models) of Guy Fawkes to carry and burn on bonfires.
Today’s Bonfire Night looks a little different to that of the 1600s. Some more traditional displays still have effigies, although not always of Guy (see the picture below!). Bonfire Night as we now know it has become an exciting and popular night, consisting of fireworks, hotdogs and muddy boots that simply encourage many of us to come together to have fun, despite the more dramatic history of the celebration.
The bonfire night celebrations in Lewes, East Sussex, are known for their elaborate and topical effigies which hail from the traditional ones of Guy Fawkes. This Rishi Sunak model was created for the 2023 celebration. Picture obtained from BBC News.
However, lots of us are trying to live more sustainably by reducing the amount of waste we produce by trying to reduce, reuse and recycle wherever possible. We’re all being more mindful about our impact on the environment, which doesn’t necessarily marry up well with Bonfire Night as we know it. Fireworks have a considerable negative impact on the environment, causing large annual spikes in pollutant air particulates, and it is estimated that around 200,000 pallets are burned each year on 5th November, amounting to roughly 35,000 trees!
Considering how different our celebrations look today, there’s nothing to stop us from creating some more positive changes to the way we do Bonfire Night. There are a few considerations we can make when planning our Guy Fawkes’ Nights to ensure it is not only enjoyable, but also safe, environmentally conscious and less distressing for our pets and local wildlife. Let's explore this together.
Go to Organised Displays
Opting to go to a large, organised event near you minimises the number of fireworks displays and bonfires created on Bonfire Night. This means you still get to enjoy the night as you would normally while ensuring that pollution, waste and noise are minimised - and you don’t have to deal with all the organisation and clean-up! Not to mention the fact that organised events adhere to health and safety regulations and environmental protocols to keep us and the planet safe.
This also means you can support small, local businesses by buying from vendors at your local display and enjoying the atmosphere around the event. One tip when choosing an event is to look out for events certified by Green Tourism to tell which organisers are more environmentally conscious.
Go waste-free, or dispose of your waste sustainably
If you are hosting your own event, try opting for reusable plates, cutlery and cups to reduce waste created by using disposable items. Collect waste such as glass and plastic bottles and cans and recycle these when you can, either at home or at designated recycling points. If you’re at an organised event, keep your eye out for recycling bins as well as general waste bins when you’re disposing of your rubbish.
Be mindful when creating your Bonfire Night menu
A delicious vegetarian Guy Fawkes’ Night recipe: Bonfire Bangers from Quorn
One massive way to reduce your impact on the environment on 5th November is by choosing sustainable foods to enjoy. Opting for vegetarian or vegan options instead of meat can reduce your impact on the environment to around 25% of the impact of a meat-eater’s diet! This blog from Veganuary and article from Quorn give some great suggestions for veggie and vegan alternatives for the foods you normally associate with Bonfire Night.
Additionally, it’s so important to be mindful of food waste when you’re planning your night. The UK wastes approximately 9.52 million tonnes of food each year, and big events like this contribute to this disproportionately. Think about what you’ve already got in the fridge, plan accordingly considering how many people you’re catering to, and save any leftovers to enjoy in the coming days.
Be thoughtful about what you put on your bonfire
It’s easy to get caught up in the festivities and chuck all your waste on the bonfire, but think about it before you burn and ensure you don’t throw any hazardous products on there that will release potentially toxic gases which could harm you and the environment.
If your bonfire affects another property in the way of smoke, ash or fumes, then you could be creating a statutory nuisance and are at risk of being fined. By burning your waste, you’re also not reusing or recycling resources to extend their lifespan and reduce the consumption of raw materials.
If and when you choose to make a bonfire, make sure to only burn untreated wood (that hasn’t been painted or varnished, as these will release harmful chemicals when burned) and garden waste. Make sure to check for animals in your garden waste before you add it as you could have some hiding in there!
Choose environmentally friendly products
Although most fireworks produce a lot of atmospheric pollution which gives them a bad name, there are lots of eco-friendly versions available to make your celebrations more sustainable while keeping them fun.
Eco-friendly fireworks use clean-burning nitrogen fuel instead of chemical oxidisers and sulphates, which means they produce less smoke, allowing for less metal salts to be used to produce the same intensity of bright colour.
These sparklers are made with wood instead of hot wire so they not only produce less metal waste but also are safer for use.
Fireworks and bonfires are large and noisy events which can be damaging for local wildlife. The MIT Press explains some of the impacts of fireworks on wildlife, and they can be devastating. They explain that fireworks displays cause birds to flee en masse and can cause disorientation, with some flying into buildings and others flying so far out to sea that they can’t return home.
Check before you light that there are no hibernating animals in your bonfire set-up or near your fireworks, and be mindful of where you set up any displays. Avoid important habitats such as lakes and bird nesting sites, and don’t set off fireworks near livestock, as frightened animals can often injure themselves while trying to escape. Taking these precautions can help keep wildlife in your community safe.
If you’re a pet owner, you may be concerned about keeping your furry friends safe and comfortable on Bonfire Night. You can opt for silent fireworks for your own use, and could even get your pets involved in the festivities by making these homemade chicken and rice treats which are suitable for your pets.
The RSPCA has lots of useful tips to make your pet’s evening less distressing, including walking your dogs in daylight hours so they’re tuckered out by the time any displays get started and playing relaxing music over the noise of the fireworks to drown them out. Make sure to give the RSPCA’s page a read to prepare yourself and your pets ahead of 5th November!
Celebrate differently this year
If you’re happy to deviate from tradition, there are lots of fun things you can try instead that will protect wildlife and pets and reduce your impact on the environment.
Why not set up a Bonfire Night treasure hunt for your family and friends? The Blue Cross recommend easy and creative ways to make homemade firework decorations to hide around your house or garden leading to some treasure. You could even make it historical by theming your treasure hunt around the original Gunpowder Plot!
You could also spend the evening bobbing for apples and making tasty recipes, such as these bonfire cupcakes, these chocolate-dipped edible sparklers or this autumnal apple & cinnamon cake.
Or maybe you unleash your creativity by collecting fallen leaves and twigs to create bonfire collages, or your own sustainable & colourful ‘fireworks’ in a jar!
Don’t forget to have fun!
Bonfire Night is all about having fun, and with these tips and tricks in hand, you can have a wonderful evening enjoying traditional (and some non-traditional!) celebrations while doing all the right things to keep the environment and wildlife as safe as possible.
We hope you enjoy this Guy Fawkes’ Night!
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