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 Gloucestershire.

What should you know about Crawley's bonfire night?

The Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event over the years.

Why are people so fond of these festivities?

You can get up to speed on the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night with a 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 that Bonfire Night is a way to celebrate.

In 1605 people celebrated the Bonfire Night.

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

Two people came up with a plan to blow up a building.

The king was in attendance, so the plan was to kill him during the process.

A conspiracy member got cold feet after sending a letter to the parliament.

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

The Parliament shared that the conspirators had been caught and punished.

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

It led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of Bonfire Night activities in the UK nowadays.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community-focused event despite its origins being sinister.

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

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

Which are the most popular foods during Bonfire Night?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are only part of the celebration.

There are lots of foods associated with the event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November as well, and these are eaten throughout the country.

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

Traditions are associated with the night of bonfires.

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

It's clear that this is a 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, there is a firework display and a large bonfire.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

You are going to find a lot of amazing things to do in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires, food and drinks shared with the community, and 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 enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible firework displays for a night to remember.

Here are some traditions that are common:

  • "Penny for the Guy" is another interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money for the fireworks. In some regions, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a homemade model of a man and then burn it. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed into old clothes.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. You can find bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, which is why they are not just a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people cook soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some cooks wrap potatoes in a foil and cook them with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake eaten on Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle, and it is very delicious.

What should you wear at the event?

People tend to dress up in different costumes depending on where they live on Bonfire Night.

In preparation for the events, this approach is quite interesting.

The Bonfire Night is a good time 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.

You don't have to wear a costume if you have a proper outfit that protects you from the cold weather.

Summing up

Every year, Bonfire Night continues to become a staple event.

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

Over the years, it has been one of those events that have impressed people.

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

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

Crawley Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Crawley Hill, Uley, Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, GL11 5BJ, United Kingdom

Organiser: Crawley Bonfire Night