Marlow Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Marlow poster

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

What should you know about Marlow's bonfire night?

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

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

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

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

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 the Bonfire Night ever since.

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

There was a vision that only an armed struggle would return Catholicism to its rightful place.

Some people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

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

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament, but ended up getting cold feet.

The other conspirators were taken into custody once 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 in order to be thankful.

It eventually led to the Bonfire Night.

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

The origins of Bonfire Night are sinister, but over the years it has become a community focused event.

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

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

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only celebration of the night.

There are a lot of foods associated with the 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 all over the country, and some regions even have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November.

Some families share their soups with friends and other family members.

The traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

Generally, Bonfire Night is a time when people parade in costumes and they also utilize flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers.

This is a clear nod to the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they 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.

There are attractions during the night.

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

In the countryside, you mostly 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 people.

You will also get to see some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

Common traditions are here:

  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a model of a man, similar to a scarecrow, and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw, and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for fireworks a few days before Bonfire Night. In some parts of the world you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • Some of the largest firework displays can be found in the biggest cities. Even in rural areas you are bound to find firework displays and bonfires.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the parliament building.
  • The bonfires are not just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook a lot of food. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional cake that is eaten on the Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle, and it is very delicious.

What are you going to wear for the event?

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

This is in preparation for the events, and it is interesting.

The Bonfire Night is a great time for most people to show off their winter wear.

Something to remember is that a winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here.

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

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.

It’s certainly one of those events that have 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 has evolved into a more community-friendly event.

We can expect this event to continue for years and years to come because happiness and a good time are the most important parts.

Marlow Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Marlow, Leintwardine, Herefordshire, England, SY7 0JP, United Kingdom

Organiser: Marlow Bonfire Night