Old Harlow Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Old Harlow poster

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

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

The Bonfire Night has become an annual event over the years.

Why do people love these celebrations so much?

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

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I, as well as blowing up the parliament.

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

There was a lot of anger against the king, due to the fact that he was against the Catholics.

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

They came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The plan was to kill the king because he was there.

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

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

The Parliament made a statement about the situation and shared that the conspirators were caught and punished.

Also, the Parliament chose to declare the 5th of November as a day to be thankful for, and hence the tradition to light up bonfires.

We went to the bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK nowadays.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community-focused event despite its origins being sinister.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to Bonfire Night or the Fireworks Night because it was focused on having fun.

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

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

Bonfires and fireworks are not the only things that can be celebrated at the Bonfire Night events.

There are many things associated with this 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 all over the country, and some regions have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November as well.

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

What should you wear for the Bonfire Night events?

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

It is quite interesting that this is in preparation for the events.

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

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

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

The Bonfire Night is associated with traditions.

People wear 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 is a clear nod to this.

Most of the time, there is a large bonfire and a firework display.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

There are many amazing attractions and events in the UK.

Food and drinks are shared with the community at smaller events that take place in countryside regions.

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

Here are some common traditions:

  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is very interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in a bid to get some money for the fireworks. 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.
  • The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plan that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook food. A lot of people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. It is possible to cook potatoes wrapped in a foil as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the eve of Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade model of a man and burn it in effigy. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothes to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you will find bonfires and incredible firework displays.

At the end

Over time, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

It is a great time for people to celebrate and enjoy some amazing food.

Over the years, it has impressed people and is one of those events.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it has evolved into a more community-friendly event.

We can expect this event to continue for years and years to come because of the importance of happiness and a good time.

Old Harlow Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Old Harlow, Harlow, Essex, England, CM17 0DW, United Kingdom

Organiser: Old Harlow Bonfire Night