Churchend Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Churchend poster

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

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

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

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

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the popularity of the Bonfire Night here.

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

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.

In 1605 this happened, and people have celebrated the night ever since.

What happened at that time is that there was a lot of anger against the king, since many considered he was intolerant against the Catholics.

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

The supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Commons.

The king was in attendance, so the plan was to kill him during the process.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament after getting cold feet.

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

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

The Parliament decided to make the 5th of November a day to be thankful for and therefore the tradition to light up bonfires.

It eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed throughout the UK.

The origins of the event are sinister, but 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 experiencing today.

The traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as it was a celebration of independence.

Most of the time, these Bonfire Night events end with a firework display.

What should you wear to the event?

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

It is an interesting approach in preparation for the events.

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

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

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome and you don't have to dress up in a costume.

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The bonfire Night events 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 toffee apples are all associated with the Bonfire Night.

These are eaten throughout the country and some regions have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November.

It is important to note that some families eat soup and share it with friends.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

You are going to find a lot of amazing things to do in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks 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 get to enjoy some great firework displays with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

These are some traditions that are common:

  • The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up Parliament.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a bird. The effigy is usually made out of straws or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The bonfires are not meant to be just a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. The crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup for them. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the evening of Bonfire Night. This cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it’s very tasty.
  • 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 get some money for the fireworks. There are kids that blackened their faces in some parts of the country, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest displays for firework displays. You are bound to find firework displays and bonfires all over the country.

Summing up

A staple event over the years, Bonfire Night continues every year.

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

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

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it became 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 go on for many years to come.

Churchend Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Berkshire Drive, The Triangle, Tilehurst, Reading, England, RG31 5JJ, United Kingdom

Organiser: Churchend Bonfire Night