East Ham Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in East Ham poster

Every year in East Ham, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Greater London we gather around the bonfire.

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

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event over the years and is one of those incredible festivities.

Why do people love these events so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the popularity of the Bonfire Night in a few minutes.

What is the tradition of the Bonfire Night?

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

In 1605 this happened, and people have celebrated the Bonfire Night ever since.

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

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

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

The plan was to assassinate the king, who was in attendance.

However, a conspiracy member got cold feet and sent a letter to the parliament.

The other conspirators were taken into custody here once they learned of the plan.

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

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

We were eventually led to the Bonfire Night.

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

Despite the fact that its origins are sinister, the event has become a community focused event over the years.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to "Bonfire Night or the Fireworks Night" because the focus is on having fun.

As the 20th century went on, the event looked similar to what we are seeing today.

There are attractions during the night.

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

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks shared with the community.

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 also get to watch some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

There are some traditions:

  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even if they are just a symbol of the failed complot. The crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup for them. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and marshmallows or sausages as well. There is a traditional cake called the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very tasty.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a model of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed into old clothes.
  • There is a tradition of carrying 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.
  • The country's biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays. There are bonfires and amazing firework displays all over the country.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting one. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to the Bonfire Night to ask for 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.

What should you wear to the Bonfire Night events?

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

This approach is in preparation for the events.

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

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

You don’t have to dress up in a costume, but a proper outfit that helps you protect yourself against the cold weather is more than welcome.

Which foods are popular during the night?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only thing going on during the night.

There are many foods associated with this 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 are prepared around the 5th of November, and eaten throughout the country.

It is important to note that some families eat soup and share it with friends or family.

Traditions associated with the night of bonfires

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

It is 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 way.

Most of the time, these events end with a large bonfire and a firework display.

Summing up

Every year, Bonfire Night continues as a staple event.

It is a great time for people to relax 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 the event has become a more community-friendly event.

The most important parts of the event are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this to continue for years and years to come.

East Ham Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: East Ham, London, Greater London, England, E6 9SA, United Kingdom

Organiser: East Ham Bonfire Night