Hendon Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Hendon poster

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

What should you know about Hendon's bonfire night?

Every year, the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event.

But what does it signify and why do people love these festivities so much?

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

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I and also tried to blow up the parliament in order to celebrate the failure of his attempt.

The Bonfire Night was celebrated in 1605 and has been ever since.

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.

A group of people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

The plan was to kill the king while he was in attendance.

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

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

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

The 5th of November was chosen by the Parliament to be a day to be thankful for.

We were eventually led to the Bonfire Night.

There are many Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

Despite the fact that its origins are sinister in nature, over the years Bonfire Night has become a community-focused event.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers because it was focused on having fun.

The event looked similar as the 20th century progressed.

There are attractions during the night.

There are many great 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 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 fireworks for a night to remember.

There are some common traditions:

  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food and are not just a symbol of the failed complot. The crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup for them. There are some people who cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat during the Bonfire Night. This cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it’s very tasty.
  • Another interesting tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money to buy fireworks. There are kids that blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to burn a homemade model of a man. This effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothes.
  • There are firework displays all over the country with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and amazing firework displays all over the country.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had in order to blow up the parliament building.

What should you wear to the Bonfire Night events?

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

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

Most people like to show off their winter wardrobe during the Bonfire Night.

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

You don't have to wear a costume if you have a proper outfit that protects you from the cold weather.

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are a lot of foods associated with the event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals to be prepared around the 5th of November as well.

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

Traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers when they parade in costumes.

It is obvious that this is a 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.

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

Summing up

Every year, Bonfire Night continues and has become a staple event.

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

It is one of the events that have impressed people in the past.

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

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

Hendon Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Hendon, London Borough of Barnet, London, Greater London, England, NW4 1BP, United Kingdom

Organiser: Hendon Bonfire Night