Dartford Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Dartford poster

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

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

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

Why do people like these celebrations so much?

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

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is because of the Bonfire Night celebrations.

In 1605 this happened, and people have been celebrating the night ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was thought to be against the Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to bring back Catholicism to the rightful place.

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

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

The conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament after getting cold feet.

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

The fact that the conspirators were caught and punished was shared by the Parliament in a public statement.

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

Which led to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays there are Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

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

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

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked a lot like what we are experiencing today.

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

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

This approach is quite interesting, and it 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 with a classical touch is usually the correct way to go here.

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome and you don't have to dress up in a costume.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

The Bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration.

There are a lot of foods associated with this event.

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

These are eaten all over the country, and some regions even have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November as well.

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

Traditions are associated with the night of bonfires.

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence, but in a safe manner.

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

There are lots of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, as well as smaller events.

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.

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.

These are some traditions that are common:

  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food and are not just a symbol of the failed complot. Many people heat up soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of bonfire. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake, and it is very tasty.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade model of a man and then burn it. This effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy" Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to Bonfire Night to ask for money for 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.
  • The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had in order 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.

Bottom line

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

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

Over the years, it has impressed people.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that over the years it has shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

We can expect this event to continue for years and years to come because of the importance of happiness and a good time.

Dartford Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Dartford, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Dartford Bonfire Night