Kensington Bonfire Night 2022

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

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

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

Why are people so fond of these festivities?

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

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I and also tried to blow up the parliament in order to celebrate the failure of his attempt.

In 1605 this happened, and people have been celebrating Bonfire Night ever since.

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

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

The supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Commons.

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

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

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

The Parliament made a public statement about the situation and shared that the conspirators were caught.

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

We went to the Bonfire Night because of that.

There are lots of Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

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

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

The event looked similar as the 20th century progressed.

Bonfire Night attractions

There are a lot of great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared by the community.

It has become a community-focused event for a lot of people because 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:

• The biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays. There are bonfires and firework displays all over the country.
• There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. This is also a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
• Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a fictional character. The effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, which is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
• The bonfires are not just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. The crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows and sausages. There is a traditional cake named the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
• The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is quite interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in a bid to get some money for the fireworks. In some regions you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.

There are traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

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

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.

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

What should you wear to the Bonfire Night events?

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

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

The Bonfire Night is a great place for 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.

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

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The events of the Bonfire Night are more than just a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are a lot of things associated with this event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November, which is when these are eaten throughout the country.

It is important to note that some families share their soups with other family members.

Bottom line

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

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

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

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there’s no denying that over the years Bonfire Night shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

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

Kensington Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Kensington, London, Greater London, England, W8 6NA, United Kingdom

Organiser: Kensington Bonfire Night