Hawkinge Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Hawkinge poster

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

What should you know about Hawkinge's bonfire night?

The annual event that has been adopted as an annual event is the Bonfire Night.

Why do people love these celebrations so much, and what does it mean?

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

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I is that it is a way to celebrate the failure of that attempt.

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

There was a lot of anger against the king, due to the fact that he was against Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who wanted an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

The two people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

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

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

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

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

The Parliament decided to make the 5th of November a day to be thankful for, and hence the tradition to light up bonfires.

We went to the Bonfire Night because of that.

Nowadays there are Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

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

The firework manufacturers decided to change the celebration's name to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century because the focus was on having fun.

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

Traditions related to the Bonfire Night.

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

This is a clear nod to the failed attempt by Guy Fawkes and his band to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

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

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with fireworks.

There are lots of things associated with this event.

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

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

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

What should you wear?

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

This approach is in preparation for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great time 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 best way to go here.

A proper outfit that protects you from the cold weather is more than welcome, even if you don't have to dress up.

There are attractions during the night.

You will find a lot of great attractions and events in the UK.

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

You will also be able to enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible firework displays for a night to remember.

There are some traditions that are common:

  • The bonfires are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook food. A lot of people make soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. It's possible to cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat during Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • An effigy, a homemade model of a man, is very common in the UK. The effigy is made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team made to blow up the Parliament building.
  • There is a tradition called "Penny for the Guy" Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for fireworks a few days before Bonfire Night. In some areas you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. Even in rural areas, you will find amazing firework displays and bonfires all over the country.

Summing up

Every year, Bonfire Night becomes a staple event.

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

Over the years, it has been one of the most impressive 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.

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

Hawkinge Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Hawkinge, Folkestone and Hythe, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Hawkinge Bonfire Night