Caterham Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Caterham poster

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

What should you know about Caterham's bonfire night?

The Bonfire Night is an annual event that has been adopted as an incredible celebration over the years.

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

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

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

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

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

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

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

They came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The king was in attendance there, so the plan was also to assassinate him during the process.

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

The other conspirators were taken into custody when they learned of the plan.

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

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

We went to the Bonfire Night due to this.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed throughout the UK.

Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister.

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

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

What should you wear at the event?

People tend to dress up in different costumes depending on where they live on Bonfire Night

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

With that being said, the Bonfire Night is a great opportunity for most people to show off their winter wardrobe.

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

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 attractions at Bonfire Night

There are lots of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared by 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 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 that are common:

  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a homemade model of a man and burn it. This effigy is meant to represent Guy Fawkes, and it’s usually made out of straw or paper, all of it stuffed within old clothes.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels 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.
  • The bonfires are not just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. Many people heat up soup for the crowds to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil, as well as marshmallows and sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake eaten on the Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • The "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. In some parts of the world, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country host firework displays. Even in rural areas you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays.

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night?

The celebration with bonfires and fireworks is not the only thing going on.

There are many foods associated with this event.

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

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

There are traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

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

It is obvious that this is a nod to the failed attempt by Guy Fawkes and his band to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

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

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night continues as a staple event.

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

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

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

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

Caterham Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Caterham, Tandridge, Surrey, England, CR3 6XS, United Kingdom

Organiser: Caterham Bonfire Night