Kemsley Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Kemsley poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Kemsley?

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

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

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

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I, as well as blowing up the parliament.

The Bonfire Night was celebrated 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.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed that an armed struggle would bring Catholicism back to its rightful place.

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

The king was in attendance, so the plan was to assassinate him.

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

The other conspirators ended up being taken into custody after they learned about the plan.

The Parliament shared that the conspirators had been caught and punished.

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

We headed to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK nowadays.

Despite the fact that its origins are sinister in nature, over the years Bonfire Night has become a community-focused event.

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

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

There are many traditions associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

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.

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

Which are the most popular foods during Bonfire Night?

The Bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration.

There are a lot of things associated with this event.

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

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

Some families share soups with friends or other family members.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

You are going to find a lot of amazing things to do in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires, food and drinks shared with the community, and smaller events.

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 like-minded 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.

Here are some common traditions:

  • 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 firework displays.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a homemade model of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw, and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is intriguing. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for the fireworks. In some regions 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.
  • A tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, to blow up the Parliament building.
  • 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 the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. It is possible to cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.

What are you going to wear for the events?

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

This approach is quite interesting and is 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.

Summing up

Every year, Bonfire Night becomes a staple event.

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

One of the things that have impressed people over the years is the event.

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

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

Kemsley Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Kemsley, Sandstone Drive, Milton Regis, Kemsley, Swale, Kent, England, ME10 2PP, United Kingdom

Organiser: Kemsley Bonfire Night