Hersden Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Hersden poster

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

What information is important to know about Hersden's Bonfire Night?

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

What is it that people love these celebrations so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity with a quick overview.

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is that he was celebrating the failure of the parliament.

This happened in 1605 and people have celebrated it 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 Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to the rightful place.

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

The plan was for the king to be assassinated during the process.

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

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

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

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

Which led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in many locations in the UK.

Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister.

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.

In the 20th century, the event looked similar to what we are seeing today.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared by 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 also get to watch some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

There are some traditions:

  • Some of the largest fireworks displays can be found in the biggest cities in the country. Even in rural areas, you will find bonfires and incredible firework displays.
  • During Bonfire Night, flaming tar barrels are carried on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an effort to blow up the Parliament building.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even though they are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people make soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. Some cooks cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the evening of Bonfire Night. There is a cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • 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 to buy fireworks. In some parts of the world, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.

What are you going to wear for the event?

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

This approach is quite interesting and in preparation for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great chance for most people to show off their winter clothes.

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

If you want to protect yourself against the cold weather, a proper outfit is more than welcome.

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are plenty of foods associated with this event as well.

In fact, things like the jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee or the toffee apples are widely 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 friends or family members.

There are traditions associated with Bonfire Night.

During Bonfire Night, people parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks, and sparklers.

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, but in a safe manner.

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

At the end

Every year, Bonfire Night is a staple 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 have impressed people.

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

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

Hersden Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Hersden, Canterbury, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Hersden Bonfire Night