Barking Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Barking poster

Every year in Barking, 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 Barking?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has become an annual celebration.

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

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity with 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 attempt.

In 1605 this happened, and people have been celebrating the night ever since.

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

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to bring about the return of Catholicism to the rightful place.

Some people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The plan was to assassinate the king when he was in attendance.

However, a conspiracy member ended up getting cold feet and he sent a letter to the parliament.

After they learned about the plan, the other conspirators were taken into custody.

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

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

We went to the bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities can be found throughout 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 because of the focus on having fun.

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

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are many foods associated with the event.

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

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

Some families share their soups with friends or other family members.

There are traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

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

It is obvious that this is a 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 during Bonfire Night.

There are attractions during the night.

You will find a lot of great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires and local events, food and drinks 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 get to enjoy some great firework displays with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

Here are some traditions that are common:

  • The bonfires are not meant to be just a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people cook soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some even cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, but also marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional cake that is eaten on Bonfire Night. This cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • 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. This effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, which is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • "Penny for the guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for fireworks a few days before Bonfire Night. In some regions you can even find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, to blow up the Parliament building.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country have some of the largest firework displays. There are bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.

What should you wear at the event?

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

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

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

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, but a proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome.

Summing up

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a staple event, and it continues every year.

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

It has impressed many people over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that over the years the event 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 event to continue for many years to come!

Barking Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Barking, London, Greater London, England, IG11 8NL, United Kingdom

Organiser: Barking Bonfire Night