If youโre staying at home
Fireworks are meant to be loud. What makes the evening hard is that you donโt always know when theyโll stop. Itโs a bit like waiting for a bus: itโs all a lot easier when you know whatโs happening.
So it helps to know the timings, and to make your evening comfortable while theyโre going on.
- Know the curfew. In England and Wales, the law on fireworks says they must stop by midnight on Bonfire Night and by 11pm on most other nights.
- Check display times. Your council or local community page usually lists them, so the first bang isnโt a shock.
- Close the curtains. Do it early and put on music or a film you know well to take the edge off the bangs.
- Plan your night in. A duvet, friends round or an early night.
If you have pets
Many pets find Bonfire Night harder than we do. The RSPCAโs fireworks advice covers it in full. The basics:
- Walk them early. Take dogs out in daylight, before the fireworks start, and keep pets indoors once itโs dark.
- Give them a den. A quiet corner with their bed, a blanket over the top and a favourite toy, so they can hide if they want to.
- Bring small animals in. Move hutches into a quiet room, shed or garage if you can. If not, partly cover them with a thick blanket, leaving space for air, and add extra bedding to burrow into.
- Check their ID is up to date. Their microchip and tag, in case they run off.
If your pet gets very frightened, talk to your vet.
If youโre going out to watch
- Go with someone. Agree where to meet if you lose each other in the crowd.
- Plan the journey. Know how youโre getting there and back. Roads near big displays often close, and taxis get busy afterwards.
- Wrap up warm. Take a flask of something hot. A tin of CBD gummies fits in a pocket too.
If youโd rather not drink alcohol
Plenty of people like a drink to settle in on Bonfire Night. I drink less than I used to, and for me these evenings arenโt really about drinking any more. If youโd rather not:
- Make a hot chocolate. Or a mulled apple juice or a ginger beer. It still feels like an occasion.
- Have an answer ready. If anyone asks, โIโm drivingโ or โearly startโ usually ends the conversation.
โFabulous with a hot chocolate and a book for a relaxed and cosy early night!โ
Laura, on our dark chocolate
For some people, a square of our CBD dark chocolate is part of the evening, whether thatโs in front of the fire or on the way home.
Bonfire Night itself is the 5th, but fireworks go off for days either side, some at organised displays and some not. If the bangs get to you, itโs worth getting ready a little ahead, and most of these tips work for the whole week.
However you spend it, I hope you have a lovely Bonfire Night.
See you soon,
Gemma
CBD is a food supplement, not a medicine. This article is for information only and isnโt medical advice. If youโre pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, check with your GP or pharmacist first.