Kempston Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Kempston poster

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

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

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

Why do people love these events?

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

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is because of the celebration of Bonfire Night.

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

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

At that time, Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics with the vision that only an armed struggle would reinstate Catholicism to the rightful place.

A group of people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The king was in attendance and the plan was to kill him.

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

The conspirators who were involved in the plan were taken into custody after they learned about it.

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

Also, the Parliament chose to declare the 5th of November as a day to be thankful for, and hence the tradition to light up bonfires.

We went to the Bonfire Night because of that.

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

Over the years, 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 of the focus on having fun.

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

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

People tend to dress up in different costumes depending on where they live.

This is in preparation for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great opportunity 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 here.

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

There are attractions during the night.

You will find 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 with the community.

It has become a community-focused event for a lot of people, where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You will be able 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:

  • The biggest cities in the country have the largest firework displays. You can find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is another interesting tradition. Kids used to take the homemade Guy effigies on the street and try 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 tried to do when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make an effigy of a man and burn it. The effigy is made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, which is why they are not just a symbol of the failed complot. Many people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake named the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. A cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle is very delicious.
  • During the Bonfire Night processions, flaming tar barrels can be carried on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an effort to blow up the Parliament building.

The traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

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

It is clear that this is a nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

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

Which are the most popular foods during Bonfire Night?

The Bonfire Night events are not only a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are a lot of foods associated with this event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that are prepared around the 5th of November as well.

It is important to note that some families share their soups with friends.

Conclusion

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

It is a great time for people to connect, celebrate and eat amazing foods.

Over the years, it has impressed many people.

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

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

Kempston Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service, Kempston, Bedford, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Kempston Bonfire Night