South Hornchurch Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in South Hornchurch poster

Every year in South Hornchurch, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Greater London we gather around the bonfire.

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in South Hornchurch?

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event for many years.

What is it that people love these celebrations so much?

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

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 celebrated Bonfire Night ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king because he was seen as being against the Catholics.

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

The two supporters came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

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

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

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

The fact that the conspirators were caught and punished was shared by the Parliament in a public statement.

The Parliament decided to make the 5th of November a day to be thankful for and hence the tradition to light up bonfires.

We eventually 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 event over the years.

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

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

Traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

People use flaming torches, fireworks, and sparklers during 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, these events end with a large bonfire and firework display.

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

The UK has many amazing attractions and events.

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

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 fireworks for a night to remember.

These are some traditions that are common:

  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, similar to a bird. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with clothes.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is one of the more interesting traditions. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for the fireworks a few days before the Bonfire Night. In some regions, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • The country's biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays. You are bound to find firework displays and bonfires all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even if they are just a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people heat up soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, as well as marshmallows and sausages. There is a traditional cake named the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. There is a cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • During the Bonfire Night processions, flaming tar barrels can be carried on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had for blowing up the Parliament building.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

The Bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are a lot of things associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are just some of the things associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

Some families share their soups with friends and family members.

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

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

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

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

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

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

Summing up

Every year, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

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

Over the years it has been one of those events that have impressed people.

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

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

South Hornchurch Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: South Hornchurch, London Borough of Havering, London, Greater London, England, RM13 7XR, United Kingdom

Organiser: South Hornchurch Bonfire Night