Balham Bonfire Night 2022

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Balham?

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event over the years.

So why do people love these festivities so much?

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

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is because it is a way to celebrate.

In 1605 this happened and people have celebrated the night ever since.

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

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

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

The plan was to assassinate the king when he was there.

A conspiracy member got cold feet and wrote a letter to the parliament.

The conspirators were taken into custody here after they learned about the plan.

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

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November as a day to be thankful for.

After that, we went to the Bonfire Night.

Throughout the UK, there are Bonfire Night activities.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community-focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister in nature.

The firework manufacturers decided to change the celebration's name to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century due to the focus being on having fun.

The 20th century event looked similar to what we are experiencing today.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Nights?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only things happening.

There are a lot of things associated with this event.

In fact, things like the jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee or the toffee apples are widely 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 eat soup and share it with other family members.

Bonfire Night attractions

There are some amazing attractions 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-focused event, where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You will also be able 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:

• There are firework displays all over the country with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find amazing firework displays.
• The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the 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 for them. Some cooks wrap potatoes in a foil and cook them with marshmallows or sausages. The Parking Cake is a traditional cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
• It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had in order to blow up the parliament building.
• "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in a bid to get some money for fireworks. In some regions, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
• It’s very common for many people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed into old clothes.

What should you wear at the event?

Depending on where they live, people tend to dress up in various costumes on Bonfire Night.

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

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

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here, and something to keep in mind.

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

The Bonfire Night has traditions.

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

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

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

At the end

Every year, there is a staple event called Bonfire Night.

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 people have been impressed with.

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

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

Balham Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Balham, London Borough of Wandsworth, London, Greater London, England, SW12 9AR, United Kingdom

Organiser: Balham Bonfire Night