Hurst Green Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Hurst Green poster

Every year in Hurst Green, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Surrey we gather around the bonfire.

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

An annual event over the years, the Bonfire Night is one of those incredible celebrations.

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

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity here.

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

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.

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

Robert and Guy were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to return Catholicism to its rightful place.

Some people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The plan was to assassinate the king during the process.

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

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

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

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

We decided to attend the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed all over the UK

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that it's origins are sinister.

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

The event of the 20th century was more similar to what we are seeing today.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

There are a lot of amazing attractions in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, as well as smaller events.

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 get to enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

Here are some traditions that are common:

  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food and are not just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people heat up soup for people to watch the fireworks. There are some people who cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on the night of the bonfire. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. This effigy is made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes, it is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The biggest cities in the country have some of the largest firework displays. You can find bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. A few days before the Bonfire Night, kids used to take the homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to ask for some money for the fireworks. 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.
  • The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had in order to blow up the parliament building.

Which foods are popular during the night?

The Bonfire Night celebrations are more than just a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are many foods associated with the event.

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

These are eaten throughout the country, and some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November as well.

It is important to note that some families eat soup and share it with other family members.

What are you going to wear to the events?

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

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

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

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

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

Traditions associated with the night.

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

It's clear 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 manner.

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

Summing up

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

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

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

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

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

Hurst Green Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Hurst Green, Oxted, Broadham Green, Tandridge, Surrey, England, RH8 9AG, United Kingdom

Organiser: Hurst Green Bonfire Night