Cliftonville Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Cliftonville poster

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

What should you know about Cliftonville'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 celebrations so much?

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

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, while also trying to blow up the parliament.

People have celebrated the Bonfire Night since 1605.

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

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to bring back Catholicism to its rightful place.

A group of people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The king was in attendance and the plan was to assassinate him.

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

The other conspirators ended up being taken into custody here after they learned about the plan.

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

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November in honor of being thankful.

We decided to attend the Bonfire Night.

There are a lot 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 being on having fun.

In the 20th century, the event looked similar to what we are seeing today.

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only thing going on.

There are many foods associated with this 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.

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 share soups with friends or family members.

Traditions related to the night of bonfires.

People parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers during Bonfire Night.

This is obviously a clear 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, these Bonfire Night events end with a firework display and a large bonfire.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

There are some amazing attractions in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks shared with the community.

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 be able to see 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:

  • The biggest cities in the country get the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and firework displays.
  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook a wide range of food. Many people heat up soup for the crowds to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional cake that is eaten on the Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the parliament building.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, similar to a bird. All of the effigy is stuffed within old clothes and made out of straw or paper.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting one. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to the Bonfire Night to ask for money for fireworks. In some regions you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was planning 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.

This approach is quite interesting and is in preparation 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 way to go here.

A proper outfit that protects you from the cold weather is more than welcome, even if you don't have to wear a costume.

At the end

Every year, there is a staple event called Bonfire Night.

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

Over the years it has impressed people.

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.

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

Cliftonville Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Cliftonville, Margate, Thanet, Kent, England, CT9 2PA, United Kingdom

Organiser: Cliftonville Bonfire Night