City of London Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in City of London poster

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

What should you know about City of London's bonfire night?

An annual event over the years, the Bonfire Night is one of those incredible celebrations.

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

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

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I, and also the attempt to blow up the parliament.

In 1605 this happened, and people have celebrated Bonfire Night ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was seen as being anti-Catholic.

Robert and Guy were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to return Catholicism to its rightful place.

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

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

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament.

The other conspirators were taken into custody when 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 as a day to be thankful.

Which led to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities can be found throughout the UK.

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

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 very similar to what we are seeing today.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

The bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are many foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee or 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 prepared around the 5th of November.

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

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

Large bonfires, local events, food and drinks are shared with the community in the countryside regions where smaller events also take place.

It's become a community-focused event for a lot of people, 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.

Some traditions are common:

  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the parliament building.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade effigy of a man and burn it. This effigy is made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes, it is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even though they are just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people heat up soup for people to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake named the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country get some of the largest fireworks displays. Even in rural areas, you will find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country.
  • There's a tradition called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for the fireworks a few days before the Bonfire Night. In some parts of the world, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was about to blow up the Parliament.

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

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

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

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

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

If you want to protect yourself from the cold weather, a proper outfit is more than welcome.

Traditions are associated with the night of bonfires.

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

It's clear 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 manner.

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

Bottom line

Bonfire Night has become a staple event over the years, and it continues every year.

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

Over the years, it has been one of the most popular events.

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 over the years.

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

City of London Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: City of London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: City of London Bonfire Night