Great Baddow Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Great Baddow poster

Every year in Great Baddow, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, with fireworks lighting up the skies across the county of Essex.

What should you know about Great Baddow'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 things so much?

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

Why do we celebrate 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.

Since 1605 people have been celebrating Bonfire Night.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was considered to be racist against the Catholics.

At that time, Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics with the vision that only an armed struggle would reinstate Catholicism to the rightful place.

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

The plan was for the king to be assassinated during the process.

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

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

The fact that the conspirators were caught and punished was shared by the Parliament.

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

Which eventually lead us to the Bonfire Night.

In places like Essex, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed.

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

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

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked a lot like what we are experiencing today.

Traditions associated with the night of bonfires

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

It's clear 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, there is a firework display followed by a large bonfire.

What should you wear to the events?

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

This is in preparation for the events, and it’s quite an interesting approach.

The Bonfire Night is a great opportunity 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 way to go here.

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

Which are the most popular foods during Bonfire Night?

Bonfires and fireworks are not the only things that can be celebrated at the Bonfire Night events.

There are lots of foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are all associated with 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.

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

You're going to find a lot of great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, although smaller events also take place.

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.

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

These are some traditions that are common:

  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had in order to blow up the parliament building.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper, stuffed with old clothes, and meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for fireworks a few days before Bonfire Night. 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. A lot of people heat up soup for the crowds to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil as well as marshmallows or sausages. There is a parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • Some of the largest firework displays can be found in the biggest cities. There are bonfires and amazing firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.

Conclusion

A staple event over the years, Bonfire Night continues every year.

It's a great time for people to celebrate and eat amazing foods.

Over the years, it has been one of those events that people have been impressed by.

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

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

Great Baddow Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Great Baddow Bonfire Night