Northolt Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Northolt poster

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

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

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

But what does it signify and why do people love these festivities so much?

Here are a few things you can do to get up to speed with the Bonfire Night.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

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.

People have been celebrating the Bonfire Night since 1605.

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

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

Two supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

The plan was to assassinate the king as he was in attendance.

A member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament after getting cold feet.

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

The Parliament made a public statement regarding the situation and 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 of lighting up bonfires.

It eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities all over the UK.

Despite the fact that Bonfire Night's origins are sinister, it has become a community 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 the focus was on having fun.

The 20th century event looked similar to what we are seeing today.

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only things happening.

There are many foods associated with this event.

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

These are eaten throughout the country, and some regions have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November.

It is important to note that some families share their soups with friends and family.

Traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

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

It is clear 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 manner.

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

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

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

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

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

Here are some traditions:

  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is very interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for fireworks a few days before the Bonfire Night. There are kids that blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even though they are just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people make soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil, but also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake named the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • There are firework displays all over the country with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and amazing firework displays all over the country.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an effort to blow up the Parliament building.

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

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

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

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

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

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome, even though you don't have to dress up.

Conclusion

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

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

It is one of the 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 the event has become 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 of Bonfire Night.

Northolt Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Northolt, London, Greater London, England, UB5 5HT, United Kingdom

Organiser: Northolt Bonfire Night