Staines Upon Thames Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Staines Upon Thames poster

Every year in Staines Upon Thames, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Surrey we gather around the bonfire.

What should you know about Staines Upon Thames's bonfire night?

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event for a long time.

But what does it mean to people and why do they love them so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity with a quick overview.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

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

This happened in 1605 and has been celebrated ever since.

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

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

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

The plan was to assassinate the king during the process.

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

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

The Parliament shared with the public that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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

We went to the Bonfire Night because of that.

There are lots of Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to Bonfire Night or the Fireworks Night because the focus was on having fun.

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

The Bonfire Night has traditions associated with it.

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

It is obvious that this is a nod to the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe way.

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

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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 just some of the things associated with the Bonfire Night.

Some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November, which is when these are eaten throughout the country.

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

What are you going to wear for the event?

Depending on where they live, people tend to dress up in different costumes.

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

Most people like to show off their winter clothes on Bonfire Night.

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 dress up in a costume, but a proper outfit that protects you against the cold is more than welcome.

Bonfire Night attractions

The UK has a lot of amazing attractions and events.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared by the community.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night has become a community event where everyone has a good time and 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.

Common traditions are here:

  • The bonfires are also used to cook all kinds of food, which is why they are not just a symbol of the failed complot. Many people heat up soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional cake that is eaten on Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake.
  • The largest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas you are bound to find firework displays and bonfires.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for the fireworks. There are kids that blackened their faces in some parts of the country, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn a homemade model of a man. This effigy is meant to represent Guy Fawkes, and it’s usually made out of straw or paper, all of it stuffed within old clothes.

At the end

Every year, Bonfire Night becomes a staple event.

It is a great time for people to connect, celebrate and enjoy some amazing foods.

It’s certainly one of those events that have impressed people over the years.

Even if the origins of this 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 part of Bonfire Night is happiness and a good time, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come.

Staines Upon Thames Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Staines Upon Thames Bonfire Night