Charlton Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Charlton poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Charlton?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has become an annual event and is one of those incredible festivities.

Why do people love these festivities?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night with a quick overview.

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

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.

In 1605 this happened, and people have been celebrating Bonfire Night 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 an armed struggle would bring Catholicism back to it's rightful place.

The two supporters came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The plan was to kill the king because he was there.

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

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

The Parliament made a public statement regarding the situation, 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.

It eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are lots of Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

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

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 was more similar to what we are seeing today.

What are you going to wear for the events?

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 great opportunity for most people to show off their winter clothing.

It's important to keep in mind 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 though you don't have to dress up.

There are traditions associated with the evening of bonfires.

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

It is obvious that this is a 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 way.

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

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

You will find many 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 good 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.

Here are some traditions that exist:

  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his group had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • There are firework displays throughout the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. You are bound to find bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even though they are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people cook soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows and sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of the bonfire. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle in this cake.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a fictional character. This effigy is made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes, it is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The tradition called "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting one. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in a bid to get some money for the fireworks. In some areas you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night?

The Bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with bonfires.

There are many foods associated with the event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that are prepared around the 5th of November, and eaten throughout the country.

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

At the end

Every year, Bonfire Night continues and has become a staple event.

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

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's no denying that it's become a more community-friendly event.

Happiness and a good time are the most important parts of Bonfire Night, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come!

Charlton Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Charlton, Spelthorne, Surrey, England, TW17 0ST, United Kingdom

Organiser: Charlton Bonfire Night