Highams Park Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Highams Park poster

Every year in Highams Park, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Greater London we gather around the bonfire.

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Highams Park?

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

What does it mean to people and why do they love these celebrations so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night with a quick overview.

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I and also tried to blow up the parliament, which is why Bonfire Night is celebrated in the UK.

Since 1605 people have been celebrating Bonfire Night.

At that time there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was seen as being against the Catholics.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We headed to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed throughout the UK

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

The event of the 20th century looked a lot like what we are seeing today.

What should you wear at the event?

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

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

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

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

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 at Bonfire Night.

You will find a lot of amazing 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 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 as well.

Here are some common traditions:

  • Some of the biggest cities in the country have large firework displays. You can find bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw, and stuffed with old clothes.
  • During the Bonfire Night processions, flaming tar barrels on the shoulders are a tradition. This is a nod to the plans of Guy Fawkes and his team to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The bonfires are not meant to be just a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, and also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake called the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. A cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle is very tasty.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take the homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money for the 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 preparing to blow up the Parliament.

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are a lot of things associated with this event.

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

These are eaten all over the country, and some regions have their own special meals prepared for the 5th of November.

It’s also important to note that some families eat soups too, and they share it with friends or other family members.

Traditions are associated with the night of bonfires.

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe manner.

Most of the time, these events include a firework display and a large bonfire.

Summing up

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a staple event and it continues every year.

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

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

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.

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

Highams Park Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Highams Park, London Borough of Waltham Forest, London, Greater London, England, E4 9EF, United Kingdom

Organiser: Highams Park Bonfire Night