Oxted Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Oxted poster

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

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

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event over the years and is one of those incredible festivities.

Why do people enjoy these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the popularity of the Bonfire Night in a few minutes.

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 of the parliament.

In 1605 this happened, and people have celebrated the Bonfire Night ever since.

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

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed that only an armed struggle would restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

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

The king was present and the plan was to kill him.

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

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

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

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

Which lead us to the Bonfire Night.

There are lots of Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that it is sinister in nature.

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

The event of the 20th century looked similar to what we are experiencing today.

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only thing going on.

There are lots of foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are all associated with the Bonfire Night

These are eaten all over the country, and some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November as well.

Some families share soups with friends or family members.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

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

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

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night is now 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 fireworks for a night to remember.

Some traditions are common:

  • The biggest cities in the country have the largest firework displays. You can find bonfires and incredible firework displays 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 old clothes.
  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook a lot of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake eaten on the Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake, and it is very delicious.
  • Another tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for fireworks. In some areas you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team made to blow up the Parliament building.

What are you going to wear for the events?

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

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

With that being said, the Bonfire Night is a great opportunity for most people to show off their winter wardrobe.

Something to keep in mind is that a winter knit with a classical touch is a good 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.

Traditions associated with the night.

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

Conclusion

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

It is a great time for people to get together and enjoy some great foods.

It has 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 evolved into 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 years and years to come!

Oxted Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Oxted, Tandridge, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Oxted Bonfire Night