Meads Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Meads poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Meads?

The Bonfire Night is an annual event that has been adopted as an incredible celebration over the years.

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 Bonfire Night associated with?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is because of the Bonfire Night celebrations.

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

What happened at that time is that there was a lot of anger against the king, since many considered he was intolerant against the Catholics.

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

The two people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The plan was to assassinate the king while he was there.

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

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

The fact that the conspirators were caught and punished was shared by the Parliament.

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

Which eventually lead us to the Bonfire Night.

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

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

The firework manufacturers decided to change the celebration's name to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century due to the focus on having fun.

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked more and more like what we are seeing today.

There are traditions associated with Bonfire Night.

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

The failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, is a clear nod to this.

Most of the time, these events end with a large bonfire and a firework display.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

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.

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 enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

These are some traditions that are common:

  • The bonfires are not meant to be just a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on Bonfire Nights. This cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in order to blow up the Parliament building.
  • A homemade model of a man is often burned in the UK. This effigy is made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes, it is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • There is a tradition called "Penny for the guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money for fireworks, a few days before the Bonfire Night. Kids blackened their faces in some parts of the country, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • Some of the largest fireworks displays can be found in the biggest cities in the country. Even in rural areas, you will find amazing firework displays and bonfires all over the country.

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

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

There are a lot of foods associated with the event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are some of the items 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 their soups with friends or other family members.

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

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

This approach is quite interesting and is in preparation for the events.

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

It's important to keep in mind 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 helps you protect yourself against the cold weather is more than welcome.

Bottom line

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

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

Over the years, it has been one of the most popular events.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it 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 years and years to come.

Meads Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Meads, Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, BN20 7NA, United Kingdom

Organiser: Meads Bonfire Night