Swanley Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Swanley poster

Every year in Swanley, 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 Swanley?

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

Why do people like these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night in a few minutes.

What is the tradition of the Bonfire Night?

Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I and also tried to blow up the parliament, which is why Bonfire Night is celebrated in the UK.

In 1605 this happened, and people have celebrated the Bonfire Night ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was considered to be racist against the Catholics.

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

Two people came up with a plan to blow up a building.

The plan was to assassinate the king, who was in attendance.

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

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

The Parliament made a statement about the situation and said 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 to light up bonfires.

We decided to attend the Bonfire Night.

There are lots of Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

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

The firework manufacturers decided to change the celebration's name to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century because the focus was on having fun.

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

What are you going to wear for the events?

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

It is an interesting approach to prepare for the events.

Most people like to show off their winter wardrobe during the Bonfire Night.

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

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

There are traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

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

It is clear 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.

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

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Nights?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only thing going on during the night.

There are lots of things associated with this event.

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

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

It is important to note that some families share soups with friends or other family members.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

There are some amazing attractions in the UK.

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 event where everyone has a good 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.

Some traditions are common:

  • During the Bonfire Night processions there 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, in order to blow up the Parliament building.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade model of a man and burn it in effigy. The effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, which is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money to buy fireworks. 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.
  • The bonfires are not just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook a lot of food. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people cook soup for them. It is possible to cook potatoes wrapped in a foil as well as marshmallows or sausages. The Parking Cake is a traditional cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle in this cake.
  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest displays. You are bound to find firework displays and bonfires all over the country.

At the end

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

It is a great time for people to come together and enjoy some great food.

Over the years, it has been one of the most popular events.

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

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

Swanley Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Swanley, Sevenoaks, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Swanley Bonfire Night