Little Ilford Bonfire Night 2022

Every year in Little Ilford, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Greater London we gather around the bonfire.

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Little Ilford?

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event over the years and is one of those incredible festivities.

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 with a quick overview.

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

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

This happened in 1605 and people have celebrated 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 both Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to bring Catholicism back to it's rightful place.

Two people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The plan was to kill the king during the process, because he was in attendance.

The member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament.

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

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

The Parliament decided that the 5th of November was a day to be thankful for and therefore the tradition to light up bonfires.

Which eventually took us to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays there are Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

Despite the fact that the origins of the event are sinister, it has become a community focused event over the years.

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 looked similar as the 20th century progressed.

Traditions associated with the night of bonfires

People parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks, and sparklers during 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.

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

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

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

There are lots of things associated with this event.

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

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

Some families eat soups too and share them with friends or other family members.

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

The interesting thing to note about Bonfire Night is that people tend to dress up in various costumes, depending on where they live.

This approach is quite interesting, and it is being prepared for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great chance for people to show off their winter clothes.

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

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome.

Bonfire Night attractions

There are many amazing attractions in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events with food and drinks being 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 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.

There are some common traditions:

• The country's biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and amazing firework displays.
• Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes to represent Guy Fawkes.
• Another interesting tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to Bonfire Night to ask for money to buy fireworks. In some regions you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
• It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans of Guy Fawkes and his team to blow up the Parliament building.
• The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food and are not just a symbol of the failed complot. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people cook soup for them. It's possible to cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that is eaten on Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake.

In the end

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

It is a great time for people to connect, celebrate and enjoy some great food.

It is one of the events that have impressed people in the past.

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 to come.

Little Ilford Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Little Ilford, London Borough of Newham, London, Greater London, England, E12 5QJ, United Kingdom

Organiser: Little Ilford Bonfire Night