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 West Sussex.

What should you know about Crawley's bonfire night?

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

Why do people love the festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the popularity of the Bonfire Night here.

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

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

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

What happened at that time is that there was a lot of anger against the king, since many considered he was intolerant against the Catholics.

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

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

There was a plan to assassinate the king because he was in attendance.

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

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

The Parliament said 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 of lighting up bonfires.

We eventually went 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 sinister origins.

The celebration was renamed to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century due to the fact that it was focused on having fun.

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

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

Bonfires and fireworks are not the only things that can be celebrated at the Bonfire Night events.

There are lots of foods associated with the event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee and other items are associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

It is important to note that some families share their soups with friends.

Traditions associated with the night of the bonfire.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers at Bonfire Night.

This is a clear 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 include a firework display and a large bonfire.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

You will find a lot of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires and local events where food and drinks are shared with the community.

It has become a community-focused event for a lot of people because 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 pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

Here are some traditions that exist:

  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even though they are only meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people make soup for them. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil and also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake called the parking cake that is eaten on 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 during the processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had for blowing up the Parliament building.
  • The "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street to ask for money for fireworks a few days before Bonfire Night. There are kids that 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 get some of the largest displays. Even in rural areas, you can find bonfires and incredible firework displays.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade model of a man and burn it in effigy. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes to represent Guy Fawkes.

What should you wear to the events?

It's interesting that people tend to dress up in different costumes depending on where they live.

It is quite interesting that this is being prepared for the events.

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

Something to keep in mind is that a winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here in winter.

It is not necessary to dress up in a costume to protect yourself against the cold weather.

Summing up

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

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

It’s certainly one of those events that have impressed people over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it became 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 to come.

Crawley Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Crawley, West Sussex, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Crawley Bonfire Night