Guildford Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Guildford poster

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

What should you know about Guildford's bonfire night?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has become an annual event, one of the incredible festivities and celebrations.

Why do people love these celebrations?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night with this 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 he wanted to blow up the parliament.

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating bonfires ever since.

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

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

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

The plan was to kill the king because he was there.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament, but ended up cold feet.

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

The Parliament shared the news that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The 5th of November was chosen by the Parliament to be a day to be thankful for.

It eventually led to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in many locations in the UK.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite its sinister beginnings.

The celebration was renamed 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 some traditions associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence, but in a safe manner.

Most of the time, there is a firework display and a large bonfire during Bonfire Night.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

The bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with bonfires.

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 Bonfire Night.

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

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

What are you going to wear for the event?

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

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

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

It's important to keep in mind that a winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here.

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

Bonfire Night attractions

You are going to find a lot of amazing things to do in the UK.

Smaller events also take place in countryside regions too, although here you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community.

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

You can also 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 common traditions:

  • The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plan that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • There is a tradition called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to the Bonfire Night to ask for money for fireworks. In some regions you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was planning to blow up the Parliament.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made from straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • Some of the largest firework displays can be found in the biggest cities. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and amazing firework displays all over the country.
  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. The crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup for them. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, as well as marshmallows and sausages. There is a traditional cake named the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.

Summing up

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

It is a great time for people to come together and enjoy some amazing foods.

Over the years, it's one of those events that have impressed people.

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

Happiness and a good time are the most important parts of Bonfire Night, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come!

Guildford Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Guildford, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Guildford Bonfire Night