Brixton Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Brixton poster

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

What information is important to know about Brixton's Bonfire Night?

Every year, the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event.

What does it mean to people and why do they love these celebrations so much?

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

What is the tradition of the Bonfire Night?

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

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating bonfires ever since.

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 restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

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

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

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

The other conspirators were taken into custody once they learned about the plan.

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

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

We went to the Bonfire Night due to that.

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

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

The celebration was renamed to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century due to the focus being on having fun.

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

Bonfire Night attractions

There are some amazing attractions in the UK.

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

It has become a community-focused event where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You will be able to enjoy some great firework displays with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

Common traditions are here:

  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. Many people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the eve of Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Nights. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the parliament building.
  • The "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for the fireworks. In some regions, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was planning 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 paper and straw and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest displays. There are bonfires and amazing firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.

What should you wear?

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

It is an interesting approach that is being prepared for the events.

Most people like to show off their winter wardrobe during the Bonfire Night.

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 have to dress in a costume.

There are some traditions associated with the Bonfire Night.

During Bonfire Night, people parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers.

This is a clear nod to the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they attempted to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe way.

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

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only thing happening on the night.

There are lots of things associated with this event.

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

These are eaten all over the country, and some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November as well.

Some families eat soups and share them with friends or other family members.

Summing up

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

It is a great time for people to relax and enjoy some great food.

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

Even if the origins of this 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 event to continue for a long time.

Brixton Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Brixton, London, Greater London, England, SW2 1SS, United Kingdom

Organiser: Brixton Bonfire Night