Fireworks – love them (I do!) or loathe them (most dogs!), the annual celebration on 5th November is hard to avoid. A bonfire party offers a great excuse for an autumn gathering with friends and family – everyone loves to gather around a fire munching on slightly charred food and waving sparklers in the air.

Young children often don’t like the loud noise of a big organised celebration with the really spectacular fireworks but you can have fun in your garden, no matter how small. A bonfire doesn’t have to be huge – you could even use a fire pit or barbecue. Try and find long handled sparklers for little children to hold or make hand shields from circles of cardboard threaded onto the handle of the sparkler.
A Bonfire party can be a simple one to cater for; baked potatoes, some sausages or soup and toffee apples and traditional Parkin for afters.

If your children don’t mind loud bangs and the smell of sulphur in the air, then take them to an organised display. These big shows have to be safety checked and will inevitable have someone like St John ambulance on hand (just in case) Fireworks are expensive and can be tricky to light and co ordinate so leave it to someone else and just stand back and enjoy.

There are many Guy Fawkes carnivals which take place over the nearest weekend to 5th November – many of these take place in the west of England and offer spectacular displays with floats and lanterns and costumes. The first Guy Fawkes carnival took place in Bridgewater in 1861.

Across the country there are Bonfire Societies – the most famous of which is in Lewes, East Sussex. These societies organise the most incredible displays steeped in Catholic-Protestant history; with flaming barrels and pope burning it might not be an education is religious tolerance but religion aside, these events are very memorable!

Follow the Fireworks Code

When buying fireworks, make sure they comply with BS 7114 and are clearly marked for their intended use "Indoor, Garden or Display"

Keep fireworks in a sealed box or tin

Use them one at a time, replacing the lid immediately

NEVER put fireworks in your pocket

Read the instructions carefully, using a torch or hand lamp NEVER use a naked flame

Light fireworks at arms length using a taper or a firework lighter

Stand well back and NEVER return to a firework after it has been lit, it could explode in your face

Ensure that all children with fireworks are well supervised

NEVER throw fireworks

Keep all pets and animals indoors

Take care of sparklers, wear gloves to hold them and dispose of sparklers in a bucket of water as soon as they are finished

Bonfire Night Recipes

Parkin – serves
Ingredients
100g butter
50g brown sugar
2 tbsp treacle
2 tbsp golden syrup
175ml milk
100g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground cloves
100g oats

Preparation
Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4.
Grease a 20cm baking tray with butter. Or use muffin trays or paper cake cases for individual cakes (makes about 20).
In a large saucepan, melt the butter, sugar and treacle together over a low heat. Be careful not to let it burn or bubble.
Remove from the heat and stir in the golden syrup and milk.
Add the plain flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon and cloves and mix well, beating to remove any lumps.
Stir in the oats.
Pour into the baking tray and cook for 45–60 minutes (or 25–40 minutes for individual cakes). Test by pressing the top with your finger tip. It should spring back and not leave a dent.
Cut into squares and leave to cool on a wire tray.


Treacle Toffee
Ingredients
450g (1lb) Soft Brown Sugar
225g (8oz) Black Treacle
110g (4oz) Unsalted Butter
2 tbsp Water
1 tbsp White Vinegar

Preparation you start, but
Place the butter, water and vinegar into a heavy bottomed saucepan, heat gently until the butter has melted.
Add the sugar and black treacle, allow to fully dissolve, this takes about 20 minutes.
Boil the mixture to a temperature of 138°C (280°F).
Remove from the heat, allow the bubble to decrease.
Pour the mixture into a well oiled 18cm (7 inch) sandwich tin.
When the mixture has cooled a little mark the surface into squares with a knife.
When cold break into squares, wrap in cellophane and store in an airtight container

Toffee Apples
Ingredients
5 medium-sized dessert apples
450g soft caramel sweets
2 tbsp water

Preparation
1. Wash and thoroughly dry the apples, and stick a wooden skewer through the stem end.
2. Slowly heat the caramel sweets in a double boiler or over a bain marie until melted and smooth. Dip the apples in the toffee and swirl until completely coated.
3. Lay on greaseproof paper or stand upright in a flower holder then place in the fridge to harden.


This rhyme isn’t remotely PC and certainly doesn’t engender religious tolerance but for centuries this is the chant which rang out on November 5th

Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason, why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, guy, t'was his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England's overthrow.

By god's mercy he was catch'd
With a darkened lantern and burning match.
So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.

And what shall we do with him?
Burn him!