Shirley Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Shirley poster

Every year in Shirley, 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 Shirley's Bonfire Night?

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

What is it that makes people love these events so much?

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

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Bonfire Night exists in the UK is because it’s a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I, while also attempting to blow up the parliament.

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

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

Robert and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to bring Catholicism back to the rightful place.

The two and other supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The plan was to assassinate the king during the process.

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

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

The Parliament made a 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 to light bonfires.

We ended up at the Bonfire Night.

In the UK, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed in many places.

Despite the fact that Bonfire Night's origins are sinister, it has become a community focused event over the years.

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

The event looked similar as the 20th century progressed.

What are you going to wear to the events?

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

In preparation for the events, this approach is quite interesting.

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

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here and something to keep in mind.

You don't have to wear a costume if you have a proper outfit that protects you from the cold weather.

Bonfire Night attractions

There are some amazing attractions in the UK.

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

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

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

Here are some common traditions:

  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money to buy fireworks. In some regions you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • 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 into old clothes.
  • The bonfires are not meant just to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup for them. There are some people who cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake called the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you will find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Nights. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in order to blow up the Parliament building.

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night?

As we mentioned earlier, the Bonfire Night events are not only a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are many foods associated with the event.

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

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

Some families eat soup and share it with friends or family members.

There are traditions associated with the evening of bonfires.

People wear costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers at Bonfire Night.

It is clear that this is a nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

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

In the end

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

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

The event has impressed people over the years.

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

The most important parts of the event are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this to continue for many years to come.

Shirley Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Shirley, London Borough of Croydon, London, Greater London, England, CR0 8BJ, United Kingdom

Organiser: Shirley Bonfire Night