Hythe Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Hythe poster

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

What should you know about Hythe's bonfire night?

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

But what does it mean to people and why do they love them so much?

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

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is because it is a way to celebrate.

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

There was a lot of anger against the king due to the fact that he was 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 to assassinate the king during the process.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament after getting cold feet.

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

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

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

We were eventually led to the Bonfire Night.

In places like Kent, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed.

The origins of the event are sinister, but over the years it has become a community focused event.

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

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

There are a lot of amazing attractions in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually 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-focused event where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other people.

You can also 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:

  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night. 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 make an effigy of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothes to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting one. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in a bid to get some money for the fireworks. Kids blackened their faces in some parts of the country, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • Some of the largest firework displays can be found in the biggest cities in the country. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and amazing firework displays.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even if they are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. Many people heat up soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. Some cooks cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. There’s also a traditional cake that people eat on the Bonfire Night, named the Parking Cake. This cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it’s very tasty.

Traditions associated with the evening of bonfires.

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

It is 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.

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

What should you wear to the Bonfire Night events?

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

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

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

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

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

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only thing happening.

There are lots of foods associated with the event.

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

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

Some families share their soups with their friends or family members.

In the end

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

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

It’s certainly one of those events that have impressed people over the years.

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

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

Hythe Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Hythe, Folkestone and Hythe, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Hythe Bonfire Night