Hackney Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Hackney poster

Every year in Hackney, 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 Hackney's bonfire night?

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

Why do people love these celebrations so much?

You can get up to speed on the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night with a 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 celebrated Bonfire Night ever since.

At that time there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was seen as being anti-Catholic.

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

The two and other supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The plan was to kill the king when he was in attendance.

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

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

The Parliament shared with the public that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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

Which eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

Despite the fact that Bonfire Night's origins are sinister, it has become a community focused event over the years.

The fireworks manufacturers rebranded the celebration at the beginning of the 20th century because it was focused on having fun.

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

There are traditions associated with the evening of bonfires.

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

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

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

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

As we mentioned earlier, the Bonfire Night events are not only 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 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 as well.

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

What should you wear to the event?

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

In preparation for the events, this approach is quite interesting.

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

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

You don't have to wear a costume if you have a proper outfit that protects you from the cold weather.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

There are many great attractions and events in the UK.

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

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

Some traditions are common:

  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. This is a reference to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is intriguing. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money to buy fireworks. 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.
  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. But in general you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man. The effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, which is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even though they are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. Many people heat up soup for the crowds coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on Bonfire Nights. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very tasty.

At the end

Every year, Bonfire Night continues to become a staple event.

It is a great time for people to celebrate and eat amazing food.

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

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

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

Hackney Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Hackney, London, Greater London, England, E9 6QW, United Kingdom

Organiser: Hackney Bonfire Night