Merstham Bonfire Night 2022

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

What should you know about Merstham's bonfire night?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has become an annual event.

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 here.

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

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

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating it ever since.

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

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

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

The plan was to assassinate the king during the process.

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

The other conspirators ended up being taken into custody after they learned about the plan.

The Parliament shared that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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

We went to the Bonfire Night because of this.

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.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century due to the focus being on having fun.

The event looked similar as the 20th century progressed.

Traditions associated with the night of bonfires

People wear costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers at 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 events include a firework display and a large bonfire.

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night 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, and treacle toffee are all associated with the Bonfire Night.

Some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November.

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

What should you wear for the Bonfire Night events?

Depending on where you live, people tend to dress up in a variety of costumes.

It is an interesting approach to prepare for the events.

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

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

If you want to protect yourself from the cold weather, a proper outfit is more than welcome.

There are attractions during the 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 with the community, but smaller events also take place.

It's become a community-focused event for a lot of people, where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You will be able to enjoy some great firework displays with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

There are some traditions that are common:

• There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the parliament building.
• Some of the largest fireworks displays can be found in the biggest cities in the country. You are bound to find firework displays and bonfires all over the country, even in rural areas.
• It is very common for people in the UK to make an effigy of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with clothes.
• The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for fireworks a few days before Bonfire Night. 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.
• The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook a lot of food. People heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some cooks cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.

Summing up

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

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

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

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that over the years it has shifted towards being 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.

Merstham Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Merstham, Reigate and Banstead, Surrey, England, RH1 3HT, United Kingdom

Organiser: Merstham Bonfire Night