Braintree Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Braintree poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Braintree?

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

What does it mean and why do 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 easy steps.

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

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.

The Bonfire Night was celebrated in 1605 and has been ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since many thought he was against the Catholics.

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

Two people came up with a plan to blow up a building.

The plan was to assassinate the king during the process.

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

The other conspirators were taken into custody after learning about the plan.

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

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November because it was a day to be thankful.

We made our way to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed all over the UK.

Despite the fact that Bonfire Night's origins are sinister, it has become a community focused event over the years.

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

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

Traditions related to the night of bonfires.

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

It is obvious that this is a nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

Most of the time, there is a large bonfire and a firework display.

There are attractions during the night.

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

In the countryside, there are usually 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 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.

There are some traditions:

  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. This effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothes.
  • Another interesting tradition comes in the form of “Penny for the Guy”. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for fireworks a few days before Bonfire Night. 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.
  • The bonfires are not meant just to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the people watching the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. People eat a traditional parking cake on Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. There are bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • A tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had 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 at Bonfire Night.

In preparation for the events, this is an interesting approach.

The Bonfire Night is a great 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.

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

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Nights?

The Bonfire Night celebrations are more than just a celebration with fireworks.

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

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples 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 and family.

At the end

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

It’s a great opportunity for people to reconnect, celebrate and also enjoy some amazing foods.

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

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

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

Braintree Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Braintree, Essex, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Braintree Bonfire Night