Abingdon on Thames Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Abingdon on Thames poster

Every year in Abingdon on Thames, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Oxfordshire we gather around the bonfire.

What should you know about Abingdon on Thames's bonfire night?

The Bonfire Night has become an annual event over the years and is one of those incredible festivities.

But what does it signify and why do people love these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the popularity of the Bonfire Night with a quick rundown.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I while also attempting to blow up the parliament in the UK.

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating the night ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was seen as being too tolerant of the Catholics.

Robert and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

The supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The plan was to kill the king during the process, because he was in attendance.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament, but got cold feet.

The other conspirators were taken into custody here once they learned of the plan.

The fact that the conspirators were caught and punished was shared by the Parliament in a public statement.

The Parliament decided to make the 5th of November a day to be thankful for and hence the tradition to light bonfires.

We went to the Bonfire Night due to this.

There are a lot of Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

The origins of Bonfire Night are sinister, but over the years it has become a community focused event.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to "Bonfire Night" because of the focus on having fun.

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked similar to what we are currently experiencing.

Bonfire Night attractions

You are going to find a lot of amazing things to do in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, but smaller events also take place.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night has become a community-focused event, where everyone has a great time, and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

With some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember, you will also get to enjoy some great firework displays.

There are some common traditions:

  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting one. Kids used to take the homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for the fireworks. In some areas, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • The bonfires are not just a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. Many people heat up soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional cake that is eaten on Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the parliament building.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a fictional character. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothing.
  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the biggest firework displays. Even in rural areas you are bound to find firework displays and bonfires.

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night?

The events of the Bonfire Night are more than just a celebration with bonfires.

There are many foods associated with the event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee and the toffee apples are all associated with Bonfire Night.

These are eaten throughout the country, and some regions even have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November as well.

Some families eat soups too and share them with friends or other family members.

There are traditions associated with the Bonfire Night.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers at Bonfire Night.

This is a clear nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

Most of the time, these Bonfire Night events end with a firework display and large bonfire.

What should you wear?

People tend to dress up in different costumes depending on where they live on Bonfire Night.

It is an interesting approach that is being prepared for the events.

Most people like to show off their winter clothes on Bonfire Night.

Something to keep in mind is that a winter knit with a classical touch is the best way to go here.

Even though you don't have to dress up in a costume, a proper outfit that protects you against the cold is more than welcome.

Bottom line

Every year, Bonfire Night continues and has become a staple event.

It is a great time for people to celebrate and eat amazing foods.

It is one of the events that has impressed people over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that the event has become a more community-friendly event.

The most important parts of Bonfire Night are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come.

Abingdon on Thames Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Abingdon, Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire, England, OX14 3UJ, United Kingdom

Organiser: Abingdon on Thames Bonfire Night