Littlehampton Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Littlehampton poster

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

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

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

Why do people love these celebrations so much, and what does it mean?

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

What is the tradition of the Bonfire Night?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I while also attempting to blow up the parliament in the UK.

People have celebrated the Bonfire Night since 1605.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was considered to be racist against the Catholics.

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

The supporters came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The king was in attendance there, so the plan was also to assassinate him during the process.

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

The conspirators were taken into custody after they learned of the plan.

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

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

Which eventually led to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities throughout the UK.

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 because of its focus on having fun.

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

What are you going to wear for the events?

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

It is quite an interesting approach to prepare for the events.

Most people like to show off their winter wardrobe during the Bonfire Night.

Something to keep in mind is that a winter knit with a classical touch is usually the best 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 is more than welcome.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

You will find 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.

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 also 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 that are common:

  • Some of the biggest cities in the country have firework displays. Even in rural areas, you can find bonfires and incredible firework displays.
  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to get some 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 planning to blow up the Parliament.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to burn a homemade model of a man. The effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, which is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The bonfires aren't just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. In fact, a lot of people heat up soup for the crowds coming by to see the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, and also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake called the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake.

Which foods are common 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 foods associated with this event.

In fact, things like the jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee or the toffee apples are widely 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.

It is important to note that some families eat soup and share it with other family members.

Traditions associated with the evening of bonfires.

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

It is obvious 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 way.

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

At the end

Every year, Bonfire Night continues as a staple event.

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

It is one of those events that has impressed people over the years.

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

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

Littlehampton Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Littlehampton, Arun, West Sussex, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Littlehampton Bonfire Night