Harrow Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Harrow poster

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

What information is important to know about Harrow's Bonfire Night?

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

What is it that people love these celebrations so much?

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

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

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

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

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

Robert and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to bring Catholicism back to its rightful place.

The two supporters came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The king was in attendance, so the plan was to assassinate him.

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

The other conspirators were taken into custody after they learned of the plan.

The Parliament shared that the conspirators were caught and punished, in a public statement.

The Parliament decided to make the 5th of November a day to be thankful for.

We went to the bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed 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 celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century because it was focused on having fun.

The event of the 20th century looked similar to what we are currently experiencing.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Nights?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are only part of the celebration.

There are lots of foods associated with this event.

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

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

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

There are attractions during the night.

You will find many amazing attractions and events in the UK.

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

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

However, 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.

Here are some traditions:

  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook a wide range of food. 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 with marshmallows or sausages as well. The Parking Cake is a traditional cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is very interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to Bonfire Night to ask for 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.
  • Some of the largest firework displays can be found in the biggest cities. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and firework displays.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw, stuffed with old clothes, and is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an effort to blow up the Parliament building.

What should you wear for the Bonfire Night events?

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

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

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

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

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

There are some traditions associated with the Bonfire Night.

People wear costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers at 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 way.

Most of the time, these Bonfire Night events are culminating with a firework display and a very large bonfire.

Summing up

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

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

Over the years, it has been one of the most popular events.

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

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

Harrow Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: London Borough of Harrow, Greater London, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Harrow Bonfire Night