Sittingbourne Bonfire Night 2022

Every year in Sittingbourne, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Kent we gather around the bonfire.

What should you know about Sittingbourne's bonfire night?

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

What does it mean to people and why do they love these celebrations so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night with a quick recap.

What is the tradition of the Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is that Bonfire Night is a way to celebrate.

The Bonfire Night was celebrated in 1605 and has been ever since.

There was a lot of anger against the king, since he was seen as being anti-Catholic.

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

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

The king was present, so the plan was to kill him.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament, but ended up getting cold feet.

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

The Parliament shared that the conspirators were caught and punished, in a public statement.

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

It eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed all over the UK

Despite the fact that its origins are sinister, the event has become a community-focused event over the years.

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

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

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

The UK has many amazing attractions and events.

Large bonfires, local events, food and drinks are shared with the community in the 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 also be able to enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible firework displays for a night to remember.

Common traditions are here:

• It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a reference to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
• Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a fictional character. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothes.
• The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even though they are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot. Many people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some cooks wrap potatoes in a foil and cook them with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat during Bonfire Night. The cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
• 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 areas you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
• Some of the biggest cities in the country have firework displays. Even in rural areas you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

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

There are a lot of things 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 prepared around the 5th of November as well.

It is important to note that some families eat soup and share it with friends or family.

What should you wear for the Bonfire Night events?

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

This is in preparation for the events.

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

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

A proper outfit that protects you from the cold weather is more than welcome, even if you don't have to dress up in a costume.

Traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

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 as a celebration of independence, but in a safe manner.

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

Summing up

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

It’s a great opportunity for people to reconnect, celebrate and also enjoy some amazing foods.

People have been impressed by it over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

Happiness and a good time are the most important parts of Bonfire Night, and we can expect this event to continue for years and years to come.

Sittingbourne Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Sittingbourne, Swale, Kent, England, ME10 4AL, United Kingdom

Organiser: Sittingbourne Bonfire Night