Henley on Thames Bonfire Night 2022

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Henley on Thames?

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

Why do people love these festivities?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity with this quick rundown.

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, and also the attempt to blow up the parliament.

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

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since many thought he was against the Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed that an armed struggle would bring Catholicism back to it's rightful place.

A group of 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 he was cold feet.

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

The Parliament shared the news 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 decided to go to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community-focused event despite its origins being sinister.

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

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked a lot like what we are seeing today.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

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

There are a lot of foods associated with the event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, or 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 share their soups with their friends or family members.

What should you wear?

It's interesting that people tend to dress up in different costumes depending on where they live.

In preparation for the events, this is quite an interesting approach.

The Bonfire Night is a good time for people to show off their winter clothing.

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here, and certainly something to keep in mind.

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

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are lots of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

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

Yes, 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.

With some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember, you will get to enjoy some great firework displays.

There are some traditions:

• It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes to represent Guy Fawkes.
• The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is intriguing. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for the fireworks. In some parts of the world, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
• During the Bonfire Night processions there is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the Parliament building.
• Some of the biggest cities in the country get some of the largest fireworks displays. You can find bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
• The bonfires aren't just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. The 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 as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very tasty.

Traditions associated with the night of the bonfire.

People parade in 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 as a celebration of independence.

The majority of the time, there is a firework display followed by a large bonfire.

Bottom line

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

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

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

Even if the origins of the 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.

Henley on Thames Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Henley-on-Thames, South Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire, England, RG9 2AN, United Kingdom

Organiser: Henley on Thames Bonfire Night