Staplehurst Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Staplehurst poster

Every year in Staplehurst, 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 Staplehurst?

The Bonfire Night has become an annual event over the years and is one of those incredible festivities.

Why do people love the festivities so much?

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

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I, and also the attempt to blow up the parliament.

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

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

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

A group of people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

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

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

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

The Parliament made a public statement about the situation and shared that the conspirators were punished.

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

We were eventually led to the Bonfire Night.

In the UK, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed all over the place.

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

The focus is on having fun, which is why the celebration was rebranded at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to Bonfire Night or the Fireworks Night.

The event of the 20th century looked more and more like what we are seeing today.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

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

It has become a community-focused event for a lot of people, where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

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

Here are some traditions:

  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even if they are just a symbol of the failed complot. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. The Parking Cake is a traditional cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • There are firework displays all over 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.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a model of a man, similar to a scarecrow, and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw, and stuffed with old clothes.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had for blowing up the Parliament building.
  • Another interesting tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to Bonfire Night to ask for money for fireworks. There are kids that blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.

Traditions associated with the night of bonfires

During Bonfire Night people use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers.

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 manner.

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

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

The celebration with bonfires and fireworks is not the only thing going on.

There are a lot of things associated with this event.

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

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

It is important to note that some families share their soups with friends and family members.

What should you wear?

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

This approach is quite interesting, and is being prepared for the events.

With that being said, the Bonfire Night is a great opportunity for most people to show off their winter wardrobe.

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

You don’t have to dress up in a costume, but a proper outfit that helps you protect yourself against the cold weather is more than welcome.

Bottom line

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

It is a great time for people to celebrate and eat amazing food.

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

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

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

Staplehurst Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Staplehurst, Maidstone, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Staplehurst Bonfire Night