Remember, remember, the 5th of November …
Remember, remember, the 5th of November …
Did you know that lighting bonfires to celebrate the survival of King James 1 (after the plot to assassinate him at the opening of Parliament failed on 5th November 1605), was first encouraged by the king’s council, shortly after Guy Fawkes was caught red-handed with his cache of explosives?
By January 1606, Parliament had passed the Observance of 5th November Act – also known as the Thanksgiving Act – to keep the date free as a day of thanksgiving and making attendance at church compulsory. Under the provisions of the Act, special church services were held to commemorate Guy Fawkes’ failure until the law was repealed on 25 March 1859 by the Anniversary Days Observance Act.
It’s more than 400 years since Guy Fawkes tried to carry out his dastardly deed and almost 160 years after the repeal of the 5th of November Act, yet we still like to party on 5th November. With the days getting shorter it’s a great excuse to cosy up around a big fire, let off some fireworks and indulge in some delicious comfort food.
If you’re planning to hold a bonfire event, you can either serve hand-held food for your customers to eat while they enjoy the firework display, or provide a cosy sit-down post-bonfire supper.
Traditional bonfire food used to consist of a few foil wrapped jacket potatoes thrown in the embers of the fire to cook, and some chewy, treacly ‘plot toffee’ to stick your jaws together. However, those with more discerning tastes might prefer something slightly more sophisticated. But keep it simple and don’t forget many of your customers will be children.
You could offer a choice of fillings in soft bread buns – sausages and caramelised onions; pulled pork; jerk chicken; roasted vegetable and halloumi cheese – all are easy to prepare, serve and eat.
If your customers can sit down, provide them with hearty dishes such as pumpkin soup, bowls of chilli, Lancashire hot-pot or pie and peas. Have some chunks of crusty bread available for mopping up sauces.
And for dessert? What could be more traditional than sticky Yorkshire parkin, toffee apples or a bonfire toffee version of sticky toffee pudding?
We leave you with a rhyme we learned at school:
Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
We see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!
Make your bonfire event a night to remember for great food and good fun!
