Bearsted Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Bearsted poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Bearsted?

The Bonfire Night has become an annual event over the years because of it's incredible festivities.

Why do people love these festivities?

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

What is the tradition of the Bonfire Night?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I, and also to blow up the parliament.

This happened in 1605 and people have celebrated bonfires ever since.

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

There was a vision that only an armed struggle would bring Catholicism back to its rightful place.

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

The plan was to assassinate the king, who was in attendance.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament but ended up getting cold feet.

The conspirators who were involved in the plan were taken into custody after they learned about it.

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

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

We ended up at the Bonfire Night.

The UK has a lot of Bonfire Night activities.

Over the years it has become a community focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister.

The firework manufacturers decided to change the celebration's name to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century because they wanted to make it more fun.

The event looked similar as the 20th century progressed.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are some amazing attractions and events in the UK.

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

You will get to see 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:

  • The bonfires aren't just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people heat up soup for people to watch the fireworks. Some cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat during Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake.
  • Some of the largest firework displays can be found in the biggest cities. You are bound to find bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • "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 the fireworks a few days before the Bonfire Night. In some parts of the world, 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.
  • An effigy, a homemade model of a man, is very common in the UK. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper, and stuffed with old clothes.
  • During the Bonfire Night processions, flaming tar barrels can be carried on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had in order to blow up the Parliament building.

What are you going to wear for 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 in preparation 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 certainly something to keep in mind.

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome, even if you don't need to dress up in a costume.

There are traditions associated with Bonfire Night.

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

The failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, is a clear nod to this.

Most of the time, the events of Bonfire Night include a firework display and a large bonfire.

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night?

The Bonfire Night events are not only a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are many foods associated with the event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals to be prepared around the 5th of November.

It’s also important to note that some families eat soups too, and they share it with friends or other family members.

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night continues as a staple event.

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

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

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there’s no denying that over the years Bonfire Night shifted towards being 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!

Bearsted Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Bearsted Bonfire Night