Great Bookham Bonfire Night 2022

Every year in Great Bookham, 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 Great Bookham's bonfire night?

Over the years the Bonfire Night has become an annual event.

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?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I, and also to blow up the parliament.

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 that many thought he was against the Catholics.

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

These two and other supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

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

A conspiracy member who was cold feet sent a letter to the parliament.

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

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

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

Which led us to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed throughout the UK.

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

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

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked similar to what we are currently experiencing.

What are you going to wear to the events?

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

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

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

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.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

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

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.

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

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

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

The UK has a lot of amazing attractions and events.

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

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

You will be able to enjoy some great firework displays with some regions going out of their way to use incredible pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

There are some traditions:

• In the UK, it is very common for people to make a model of a man, similar to a scarecrow, and burn it. All of the effigy is stuffed within old clothes and made out of straw or paper.
• The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook food. A lot of people heat up soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows and sausages. People eat a traditional parking cake on Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
• There 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 for blowing up the Parliament building.
• "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for the fireworks. Kids blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
• The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest displays for firework displays. Even in rural areas you are bound to find bonfires and firework displays.

Traditions associated with the night of the bonfire.

People 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.

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

Bottom line

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

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

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

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

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.

Great Bookham Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Great Bookham, Mole Valley, Surrey, England, KT23 4JQ, United Kingdom

Organiser: Great Bookham Bonfire Night