Claygate Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Claygate poster

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

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

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

Why do people love these festivities so much, what does it mean?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity by reading this quick rundown.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is because of the Bonfire Night celebrations.

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating the night ever since.

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

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

The plan was to assassinate the king when he was in attendance.

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

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

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

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November because it was a day to be thankful for.

Which eventually lead us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities throughout the UK.

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

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century because of its focus on having fun.

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked more and more similar to what we are experiencing today.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only thing happening during the night.

There are many different foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, and treacle toffee are all associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

Some families share soups with friends or family members.

What are you going to wear to the events?

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

This is in preparation for the events.

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

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

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

Traditions are associated with the night of bonfires.

People wear costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks, and sparklers on Bonfire Night.

This is a clear nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe manner.

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

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

You're going to find a lot of great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, but smaller events also take place.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night has become a community 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.

Here are some common traditions:

  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade model of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper and stuffed into old clothes.
  • The bonfires are not just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all sorts of food. A lot of people make soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of bonfires. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • There is a tradition called "Penny for the guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to get some money to buy fireworks. In some regions, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • During the Bonfire Night processions, flaming tar barrels can be carried on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had for blowing up the Parliament building.
  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest displays for firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays.

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night continues as a staple event.

It’s a great opportunity for people to reconnect, celebrate and also enjoy some amazing foods.

The event has impressed many people over the years.

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

The most important aspects of Bonfire Night are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this event to continue for a long time.

Claygate Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Claygate, Elmbridge, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Claygate Bonfire Night