Allington Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Allington poster

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

What information is important to know about Allington's Bonfire Night?

The annual celebration of the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an event over the years.

Why do people love these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity by reading this quick rundown.

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I and also tried to blow up the parliament in order to celebrate the failure of his plan.

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating Bonfire Nights ever since.

There was a lot of anger against the king due to the fact that he was against Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to bring Catholicism back to it's rightful place.

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

The plan was to kill the king because he was there.

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

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

The Parliament shared that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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

Which lead us to the Bonfire Night.

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

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that it is sinister in nature.

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

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

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only thing going on.

There are a lot of things associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are just a few of the things that are associated with the Bonfire Night.

Some regions have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November, which is when these are eaten throughout the country.

It is important to note that some families share their soups with friends or family members.

Traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe manner.

Most of the time, there is a firework display and a large bonfire.

What are you going to wear for the events?

Depending on where you live, people tend to dress up in a variety of costumes.

This approach is quite interesting, and is being prepared for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great time for people to show off their winter clothes.

Something to keep in mind is that a winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to travel here.

You don't have to wear a costume if you have a proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared by the community.

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

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

Here are some traditions that exist:

  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. The crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup. Some cooks cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake called the parking cake that is eaten on Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very tasty.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up Parliament.
  • In the UK it is very common for people to make a model of a man and burn it. This effigy is made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes, it is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • There are firework displays throughout the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country.
  • There is a tradition called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for the fireworks a few days before the Bonfire Night. In some regions you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was planning to blow up the Parliament.

Bottom line

Every year, Bonfire Night becomes a staple event.

It is a great time for people to get together, celebrate and enjoy some great food.

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

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

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

Allington Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Allington, Maidstone, Kent, England, ME16 0TX, United Kingdom

Organiser: Allington Bonfire Night