Greenwich Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Greenwich poster

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

What should you know about Greenwich's bonfire night?

Every year, the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event.

What does it mean to people and why do they love these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night by reading 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 because it is a way to celebrate.

The Bonfire Night was celebrated in 1605 and people have been celebrating ever since.

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.

They came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The king was present and the plan was to kill him.

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

After they learned about the plan, the other conspirators were taken into custody here.

The Parliament made a public statement about the situation and shared that the conspirators were caught.

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

We went to the Bonfire Night because of that.

There are Bonfire Night activities throughout the UK.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister in nature.

The celebration was renamed to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century because it was focused on having fun.

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

What are you going to wear to the events?

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

It is quite interesting that this is in preparation for the events.

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

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

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

Which foods are popular during the night?

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

There are many foods associated with the event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that are prepared around the 5th of November.

Some families share their soups with their friends or family members.

Traditions related to the night of bonfires.

People in costumes use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers on 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.

There are attractions during the night.

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

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

It's become a community-focused event for a lot of people because 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.

These are some traditions that are common:

  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had for blowing up the Parliament building.
  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in a bid to get some money for fireworks. In some parts of the world you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a model of a man and then burn it. The effigy is usually made from straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. People heat up soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. People eat a traditional parking cake on Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas you are bound to find bonfires and firework displays.

Bottom line

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

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

One of the things that have impressed people over the years is the event.

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

We can expect this event to continue for years and years to come because of the importance of happiness and a good time.

Greenwich Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Greenwich, London, Greater London, England, SE10 9HF, United Kingdom

Organiser: Greenwich Bonfire Night