Ashford Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Ashford poster

Every year in Ashford, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, with fireworks lighting up the skies across the county of Surrey.

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

Over the years the Bonfire Night has been an annual event.

What is it that makes people love these celebrations so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night in a few moments.

Why do we celebrate 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 celebrated it ever since.

There was a lot of anger against the king at that time, since he was seen as being anti-Catholic.

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

Two of the supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The king was in attendance and the plan was to kill him.

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

Once they learned about the plan, Fawkes and Catesby as well as the other conspirators ended up being taken into custody here.

The Parliament made a statement about the situation and said that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November in order to be thankful for.

We traveled to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in many places in the UK.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community-focused event despite its sinister origins.

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

The event of the 20th century looked a lot like what we are seeing today.

There are some traditions associated with the Bonfire Night.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers when they parade in costumes during 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, in a safe manner.

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

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night?

The bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with bonfires.

There are lots of things associated with this event.

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

These are eaten throughout the country, and some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November.

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

What are you going to wear to the events?

It's interesting that people tend to dress up in different costumes depending on where they live.

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

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

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

You don’t have to dress up in a costume, but a proper outfit that helps you protect yourself against the cold weather is more than welcome.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

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

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

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.

You will also get to watch some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

There are some common traditions:

  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy 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 bird. The effigy is usually made out of paper and straw and stuffed with old clothes.
  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the biggest displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find amazing firework displays.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and ask for money in order to buy fireworks. In some parts of the country you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • The bonfires are meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. In fact, a lot of people heat up soup for the crowds coming by to see the fireworks. Some cooks cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.

At the end

Every year, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

It is a great time for people to come together and enjoy some great foods.

Over the years, it has been one of those events that has impressed people.

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

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

Ashford Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Ashford, Spelthorne, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Ashford Bonfire Night