Haslemere Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Haslemere poster

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

What should you know about Haslemere's bonfire night?

The Bonfire Night has become an annual event over the years and is one of those incredible celebrations.

But what is it that makes people love these celebrations so much?

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

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is that he wanted to blow up the parliament.

In 1605 this happened, and people have been celebrating bonfires ever since.

What happened at that time is that there was a lot of anger against the king, since many considered he was intolerant against the Catholics.

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

These two and other supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

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

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament.

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

The Parliament made a statement about the situation and shared that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided that the 5th of November was a day to be thankful for and therefore the tradition to light up bonfires.

We were led to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities all over the UK.

The origins of Bonfire Night are sinister, but over the years it has become a community event.

The celebration was renamed to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century due to the fact that it was focused on having fun.

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

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

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

There are many foods associated with this event.

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

Some families eat soups and share them with friends or family members.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

You're going to find a lot of great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires and local events where food and drinks are shared with the community.

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

You will also get to see 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:

  • Some of the largest firework displays can be found in the biggest cities in the country. There are bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even though they are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup for them. Some cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the evening of Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake.
  • 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 paper or straw, stuffed with old clothes, and is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is quite interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in a bid to get some money for the fireworks. Kids blackened their faces in some parts of the country, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. This is also a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.

What should you wear at the event?

People tend to dress up in different costumes depending on where they live.

It is an interesting approach that is being prepared for the events.

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

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

There are many traditions associated with the Bonfire Night.

People parade in costumes and 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 attempted to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe manner.

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

In the end

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

It is a great time for people to relax and enjoy some great food.

Over the years, it has been one of those events that impressed 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 over the years.

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

Haslemere Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Haslemere, Waverley, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Haslemere Bonfire Night