Finchley Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Finchley poster

Every year in Finchley, 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 the Bonfire Night in Finchley?

The Bonfire Night has become an annual event over the years because of it's incredible festivities.

Why do people love these events?

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

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is that he was celebrating the failure of the parliament.

In 1605 people celebrated the Bonfire Night.

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

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

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

The plan was to kill the king when he was in attendance.

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

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

The parliament shared that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The 5th of November was chosen by the Parliament to be a day to be thankful for.

Which eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays there are Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

The origins of the event are sinister, but it has become a community focused event over the years.

The firework manufacturers decided to change the celebration's name to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century because of its focus on having fun.

The event of the 20th century looked more and more like what we are seeing today.

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only thing happening.

There are plenty of foods associated with this event as well.

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 prepared around the 5th of November as well.

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

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

You will find many amazing attractions and events in the UK.

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

Yes, 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.

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

Here are some traditions:

  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade effigy of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper, and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. Again, this is a nod to the plan that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The country's biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays. There are bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • There is an interesting tradition called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take the homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for the fireworks. Kids blackened their faces in some parts of the country, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • The bonfires are not only 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 crowds coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the Bonfire Night. A cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle is very tasty.

Traditions related to the Bonfire Night.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers when they parade in costumes at Bonfire Night.

It is obvious 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 include a large bonfire and a firework display.

What should you wear to the events?

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

In preparation for the events, this approach is quite interesting.

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

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

You don't have to wear a costume, but a proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome.

At the end

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

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

People have been impressed by it over the years.

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 part of Bonfire Night is happiness and a good time, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come.

Finchley Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Finchley, London Borough of Barnet, London, Greater London, England, N3 2RN, United Kingdom

Organiser: Finchley Bonfire Night