Colindale Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Colindale poster

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

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

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

Why do people love these festivities so much?

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

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is that it is a way to celebrate the failure of the parliament.

In 1605 this happened and people have been celebrating bonfires ever since.

There was a lot of anger against the king due to the fact that he was against Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who wanted an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

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

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

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

After learning about the plan, the other conspirators were taken into custody here.

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

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

Which eventually took us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

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 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 seeing today.

Traditions related to the night of bonfires.

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

This is 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 way.

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

There are a lot of amazing 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, as well as smaller events.

It has 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 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 traditions:

  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. There are bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The bonfires are not just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the people watching the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of Bonfire Night. It 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 tried to do when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • During the Bonfire Night processions, flaming tar barrels can be carried on the shoulders. This is in reference to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to burn a homemade model of a man. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper, stuffed with old clothes, and is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.

What should you wear at the event?

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

It is quite 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 is usually 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 is more than welcome.

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

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

There are many things associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are all related to the Bonfire Night.

These are eaten all over the country, and some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November.

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

At the end

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

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

It has impressed many people over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there's no denying that it's become a more community-friendly event over the years.

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

Colindale Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Colindale, Colindale Avenue, Colindale, London Borough of Barnet, London, Greater London, England, NW9 4AX, United Kingdom

Organiser: Colindale Bonfire Night