Crawley Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Crawley poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Crawley?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has become an annual event because of it's incredible festivities.

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

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

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

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

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 the Catholics.

There was a vision that only an armed struggle would bring Catholicism back to its rightful place.

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

The king was present, so the plan was to kill him.

A conspiracy member who was cold feet sent a letter to the parliament.

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

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

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

It eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in many places in the UK.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister in nature.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century due to the focus being on having fun.

The event of the 20th century looked more and more like what we are experiencing today.

There are traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

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

It's clear that this is a nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

Most of the time, these Bonfire Night events are culminating with a firework display and a very large bonfire.

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only celebrations of the night.

There are many different foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee and toffee apples 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.

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

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 shared with the community.

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.

With some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember, you will get to enjoy some great firework displays as well.

There are some common traditions:

  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for fireworks. There are kids that blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, which is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an effort to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The bonfires are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. Many people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • Some of 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 firework displays all over the country.

What are you going to wear for the event?

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

This is in preparation for the events, and it is interesting.

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 best way to go here.

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

Bottom line

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

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

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 over the years.

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

Crawley Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Crawley, Membury, East Devon, Devon, England, EX14 9AX, United Kingdom

Organiser: Crawley Bonfire Night