Southborough Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Southborough poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Southborough?

The annual celebration of the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an event over the years.

Why do people love these festivals so much?

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

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.

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

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

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

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

The king was in attendance and the plan was to kill him.

The member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament.

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

The Parliament made a public statement stating 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 of lighting up bonfires.

It eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities all over the UK.

The origins of Bonfire Night are sinister, but over the years it has become a community focused event.

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

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked similar to what we are experiencing today.

There are traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers when they parade in costumes 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.

Most of the time, these Bonfire Night events end with a firework display.

There are attractions during 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 shared with the community.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night has become a community 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.

Here are some 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 for 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 tried to do when he was planning to blow up the Parliament.
  • There are firework displays throughout the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod 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 to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook a lot of food. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people make soup for them. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. There is a parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. A cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle is very delicious.

What should you 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 is quite an interesting approach.

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

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

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

Which foods are popular during the night?

The Bonfire Night events are more than 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 Bonfire Night.

Some regions have their own special meals to be prepared around the 5th of November as well.

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

At the end

Every year, Bonfire Night continues, and has become a staple event.

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

It is one of the events that have impressed people over the years.

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

We can expect this event to continue for years and years to come because happiness and a good time are the most important parts.

Southborough Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Southborough Bonfire Night