Harwich Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Harwich poster

Every year in Harwich, 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 the Bonfire Night in Harwich?

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

Why do people love these things so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the popularity of the Bonfire Night in a few minutes.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

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

People have been celebrating the Bonfire Night since 1605.

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

Two supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

The plan was to assassinate the king as he was in attendance.

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

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

The Parliament made a public statement regarding the situation, shared the fact that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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

We went to the Bonfire Night after that.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed all over the UK.

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

The celebration was renamed to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century because of its focus on having fun.

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked more and more similar to what we are experiencing today.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are many things associated with this event.

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

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

It is important to note that some families share their soups with friends.

There are traditions associated with the evening of bonfires.

People parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks, and sparklers on 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, in a safe manner.

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

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

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

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

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 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.

Here are some traditions that are common:

  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a model of a man and then burn it. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper, and stuffed with old clothes.
  • During the Bonfire Night processions, flaming tar barrels can be carried 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.
  • "Penny for the guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to get some money for 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.
  • The bonfires are not just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. People heat up soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. Some cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of bonfire. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you can find bonfires and incredible firework displays.

What are you going to wear for the event?

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

It is an interesting approach in preparation for the events.

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

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

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

At the end

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

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

Over the years it has impressed people.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it has evolved into 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!

Harwich Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Harwich, Tendring, Essex, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Harwich Bonfire Night