Dorking Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Dorking poster

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

What should you know about Dorking's bonfire night?

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event for a long time.

Why do people love these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night by reading this quick overview.

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.

This happened in 1605 and has been celebrated ever since.

There was a lot of anger against the king, due to the fact that he was against Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were both Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

The two people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

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

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament, however, he got cold feet.

The conspirators were taken into custody when 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 to be thankful for.

Which eventually led to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities all over the UK.

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.

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

There are traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

People wear costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks, and sparklers during 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, but in a safe way.

The majority of the time, these Bonfire Night events include a firework display and a large bonfire.

Bonfire Night attractions

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, but there are also smaller events.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night has become a community event where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like minded people.

You will get 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 are common:

  • The largest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find firework displays and bonfires.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting one. Kids used to take the homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money for the fireworks. In some parts of the world you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. The plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building are a nod to this.
  • In the UK it is very common for people to make a model of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • 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 people coming by to watch the fireworks. Some cooks cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. People eat a traditional cake called the parking cake on Bonfire Night. There is a cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.

What should you wear for the Bonfire Night events?

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

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

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

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

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

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The Bonfire Night events are not only a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are many foods associated with the event.

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

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

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

Conclusion

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

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

The event has impressed people over the years.

Even if the origins of this 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 years and years to come.

Dorking Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Dorking, Mole Valley, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Dorking Bonfire Night