Harold Hill Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Harold Hill poster

Every year in Harold Hill, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Greater London we gather around the bonfire.

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Harold Hill?

The annual celebration of the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event over the years.

But what does it mean to people and why do they love them so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the popularity of the Bonfire Night by reading this quick rundown.

What is the tradition of the Bonfire Night?

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

In 1605 this happened, and people have been celebrating bonfires 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 bring about the return of Catholicism to the rightful place.

Some people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

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

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

Once they learned about the plan, Fawkes and Catesby as well as the other conspirators ended up being taken into custody here.

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

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November in honor of being thankful for it.

We went to the bonfire Night.

In locations like Greater London, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed.

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 on having fun.

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

Traditions associated with the night.

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

The failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament is a clear nod to that.

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

Which foods are popular during the night?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only thing happening on the night.

There are plenty of foods associated with this event as well.

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

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

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

What should you wear to the events?

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

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

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 with a classical touch is normally the right way to go here.

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

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

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

You will also get 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 that are common:

  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays. You are bound to find firework displays and bonfires all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • A tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The bonfires are not meant just to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil, as well as marshmallows and sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the evening of Bonfire Night. There is a cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • Another interesting tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money for fireworks, a few days before Bonfire Night. In some regions, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was about to blow up the Parliament.

At the end

A staple event over the years, Bonfire Night continues every year.

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

Over the years it has impressed many people.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

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

Harold Hill Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Harold Hill, London Borough of Havering, London, Greater London, England, RM3 8XP, United Kingdom

Organiser: Harold Hill Bonfire Night