Godalming Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Godalming poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Godalming?

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

Why do people like these celebrations so much?

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

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is that it is a way to celebrate the failure.

In 1605 this happened and people have been celebrating bonfires ever since.

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

Robert and Guy were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to return Catholicism to its 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.

A member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament.

The conspirators who were involved in the plan were taken into custody after they learned about it.

The Parliament shared that the conspirators were caught and punished in a public statement.

Also, the Parliament chose to declare the 5th of November as a day to be thankful for, and hence the tradition to light up bonfires.

It eventually led to the Bonfire Night.

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

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

The celebration was renamed to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century due to the focus on having fun.

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

There are traditions associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

This is a clear 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 manner.

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

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

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

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires, food and drinks shared with the community, and smaller events.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night is now a community-focused event where everyone has a great time and 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 pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

Here are some traditions that are common:

  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. You can find bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • There is a tradition called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for the fireworks a few days before the Bonfire Night. In some regions you can even 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 are not just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. It's possible to cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake called the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of paper and straw and stuffed with old clothes.
  • 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.

What should you wear for the Bonfire Night events?

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

This approach is quite interesting and is in preparation for the events.

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

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

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

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night?

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

There are many things associated with this event.

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

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

Some families eat soups too and share them with friends or other family members.

In the end

Every year, there is a staple event called Bonfire Night.

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

Over the years it has impressed many people.

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

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.

Godalming Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Godalming, Waverley, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Godalming Bonfire Night