Berrylands Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Berrylands poster

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

What should you know about Berrylands's bonfire night?

The Bonfire Night has become an annual event over the years and is one of those incredible celebrations.

Why do people love the festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night by reading this.

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.

People have celebrated the Bonfire Night since 1605.

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

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

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

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

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

The other conspirators ended up being taken into custody here after they learned about the plan.

The Parliament shared the fact that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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

We went to the Bonfire Night due to this.

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

Despite the fact that the origins of the event are sinister, it has become a community focused event over the years.

The celebration was renamed to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century because it was focused on having fun.

The 20th century event looked a lot like what we are experiencing today.

There are many traditions associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

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

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

Bonfires and fireworks are not the only things that can be celebrated at the Bonfire Night events.

There are plenty of foods associated with this event as well.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas and treacle toffee are all associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

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

There are attractions during 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, 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 get to enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

Common traditions are here:

  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during processions. This is also a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for the fireworks. 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.
  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook a lot of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the crowds to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional dessert that people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very tasty.
  • The biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays in the country. You can find bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper, stuffed with old clothes, and is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

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

It is quite interesting that this is being prepared for the events.

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

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

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

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night continues to become a staple event.

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

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

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

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

Berrylands Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Berrylands, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, London, Greater London, England, KT5 8JZ, United Kingdom

Organiser: Berrylands Bonfire Night