Forest Hill Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Forest Hill poster

Every year in Forest Hill, 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 Forest Hill?

The Bonfire Night has become an annual event over the years.

But what is it that makes people love these celebrations so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity with a quick rundown.

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 celebrated the night ever since.

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

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

A group of people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

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

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

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

The Parliament shared with the public that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided to make the 5th of November a day to be thankful for and hence the tradition to light bonfires.

We ended up at the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities all over the UK.

Over the years it 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 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 seeing today.

Bonfire Night attractions

There are many amazing attractions in the UK.

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

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

Some traditions are common:

  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy" Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for fireworks a few days before Bonfire Night. In some parts of the world, 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 bonfires aren't just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people make soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, as well as marshmallows and sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat during the Bonfire Night. This cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, which is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. 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. Even in rural areas you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

The Bonfire Night celebrations are more than just 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 things that are associated with the Bonfire Night.

These are eaten all over 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.

Traditions are associated with the night of bonfires.

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

It is obvious that this is a nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

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

What should you wear to the event?

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

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 outfits.

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

It is not necessary to dress up in a costume to protect yourself against the cold weather.

Bottom line

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

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

It has impressed many people over the years.

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

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

Forest Hill Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Forest Hill, London Borough of Lewisham, London, Greater London, England, SE23 3HE, United Kingdom

Organiser: Forest Hill Bonfire Night