Harlow Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Harlow poster

Every year in Harlow, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Essex we gather around the bonfire.

What should you know about Harlow's bonfire night?

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event for many years.

Why do people love these festivals so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the popularity of the Bonfire Night here.

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

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

This happened in 1605, and people have been celebrating the Bonfire Night ever since.

At that time there was a lot of anger against the king since he was seen as being against the Catholics.

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

A group of people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

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

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

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

The Parliament made a public statement stating that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided to light bonfires on the 5th of November to be thankful for.

We decided to attend the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities all over the UK.

Despite the fact that the origins of the event are sinister, it has become a community-focused event over the years.

The focus is on having fun, which is why the celebration was rebranded at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to Bonfire Night or the Fireworks Night.

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

What should you wear to the event?

Depending on where you live, people tend to dress up in different costumes for Bonfire Night.

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

The Bonfire Night is a great time for most 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.

If you want to protect yourself from the cold weather, a proper outfit is more than welcome.

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are a lot of foods associated with the event.

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

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

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

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of amazing attractions in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, but there are also smaller events.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night has become a community event where everyone has a great time, and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You will also 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.

Common traditions are here:

  • The bonfires are not just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook a lot of food. A lot of people make soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, as well as marshmallows and sausages. People eat the parking cake on Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • There are firework displays all over the country. There are bonfires and amazing firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money to buy fireworks. In some regions, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade model of a man and then burn it. The effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his group had to blow up the Parliament building.

Traditions associated with the night.

People in costumes 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 Bonfire Night events end with a firework display.

Conclusion

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

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

It is one of the things that have impressed people over the years.

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

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

Harlow Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Harlow, Essex, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Harlow Bonfire Night