Chigwell Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Chigwell poster

Every year in Chigwell, 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 Chigwell?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has become an annual celebration.

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 with a quick overview.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

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

The Bonfire Night was celebrated in 1605 and people have been celebrating ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king because he was seen as being 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 two supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The king was in attendance, so the plan was to assassinate him.

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

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

The Parliament made a statement about the situation and shared that the conspirators were caught.

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

We made our way to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities can be found throughout the UK.

The origins of Bonfire Night are sinister, but over the years it has become a community focused event.

The firework manufacturers rebranded the celebration at the beginning of the 20th century because it was focused on having fun.

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

There are attractions during the night.

There are a lot of great attractions and events in the UK.

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

Yes, 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 also get to watch 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:

  • Some of the biggest cities in the country have some of the largest firework displays. You are bound to find bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the Parliament building.
  • There is a tradition called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money for fireworks, a few days before Bonfire Night. In some parts of the country 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 just 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. It is possible to cook potatoes wrapped in a foil as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on the night of the bonfire. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle in this cake.
  • An effigy, a homemade model of a man, is very common in the UK. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothing.

The Bonfire Night is associated with traditions.

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

This is a clear nod to the failed attempt by Guy Fawkes and his band to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence, but in a safe manner.

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

What should you wear to the events?

Depending on where they live, people tend to dress up in various costumes.

It is an interesting approach to prepare for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great opportunity for most people to show off their winter clothes.

Something to keep in mind is that a winter knit with a classical touch is probably 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 up in a costume.

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are many foods associated with the event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November as well.

Some families share their soups with friends or family members.

At the end

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

It is a great time for people to get together and enjoy some great foods.

It’s certainly one of those events that have impressed people over the years.

Even if the origins of the event are a bit darker, there is no denying that the event has evolved into a more community-friendly event.

We can expect this event to continue for years and years to come because of the importance of happiness and a good time.

Chigwell Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Chigwell, Epping Forest, Essex, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Chigwell Bonfire Night