Cranleigh Bonfire Night 2022

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

What should you know about Cranleigh's bonfire night?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has been an annual event.

Why do people love these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity with a quick overview.

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

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

In 1605 this happened, and people have been celebrating bonfires 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 Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to bring Catholicism back to the rightful place.

Two people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The king was in attendance and so the plan was to kill him.

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

The other conspirators were taken into custody once they learned of the plan.

The Parliament made a statement 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.

It eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

Despite the fact that Bonfire Night's origins are sinister, it has become a community focused event over the years.

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

The event looked similar to what we are experiencing today as the 20th century progressed.

Traditions are associated with the night of bonfires.

People parade in costumes and 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 Bonfire Night events end with a firework display and a large bonfire.

There are attractions during the night.

The UK has a lot of amazing attractions and events.

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

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.

There are some traditions that are common:

• The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for fireworks a few days before the Bonfire Night. Kids blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
• The biggest cities in the country have some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas you are bound to find firework displays and bonfires.
• It is very common for people in the UK to make an effigy of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper, stuffed with old clothes, and meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
• There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the Parliament building.
• The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even though they are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. Many people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on the night of the bonfire. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

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

There are a lot of foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are some of the things 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.

Some families eat soup and share it with friends or family.

What should you wear to the events?

Depending on where you live, people tend to dress up in different costumes for Bonfire Night.

It is quite interesting that this is in preparation for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great time for most people to show off their winter wear.

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here.

You don't have to dress up in a costume, but a proper outfit that helps you protect yourself against the cold weather is more than welcome.

Conclusion

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a yearly event.

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

People have been impressed by it 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 parts of Bonfire Night are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come!

Cranleigh Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Cranleigh, Leith Way, Leighwood Fields, Cranleigh, Waverley, Surrey, England, GU6 8GH, United Kingdom

Organiser: Cranleigh Bonfire Night