Falconwood Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Falconwood poster

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

What should you know about Falconwood's bonfire night?

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

But what does it signify and 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 rundown.

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, as well as the attempt to blow up the parliament.

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating the night ever since.

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

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

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

The king was in attendance and the plan was to assassinate him.

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

The other conspirators were also taken into custody once they learned about 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.

Which eventually lead us to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities can be found throughout the UK.

The origins of the event are sinister, but it has become a community 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 of the focus on having fun.

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

What should you wear to the events?

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

It is an interesting approach in preparation for the events.

With that being said, the Bonfire Night is a great opportunity for most people to show off their winter wardrobe.

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here, and something to keep in mind.

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

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

The Bonfire Night events are more than a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are lots of foods associated with this event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that are prepared around the 5th of November as well.

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

The Bonfire Night is associated with traditions.

During Bonfire Night people use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers.

The failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament is a clear nod to that.

The majority of the time, these events end with 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.

Food and drinks are shared with the community at smaller events that take place in countryside regions.

It's become a community-focused event for a lot of people because they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

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

Common traditions are here:

  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. The crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup. There are some people who cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake named the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it’s very tasty.
  • The biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays in the country. You can find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade model of a man and burn it. This effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, it is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in order to blow up the Parliament building.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. 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 planning to blow up the Parliament.

In the end

Every year, Bonfire Night has 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 is no denying that over the years the event has evolved into 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 many years to come.

Falconwood Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Falconwood, Lingfield Crescent, Falconwood, London Borough of Bexley, London, Greater London, England, SE9 2RD, United Kingdom

Organiser: Falconwood Bonfire Night