Swanscombe Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Swanscombe poster

Every year in Swanscombe, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Kent we gather around the bonfire.

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Swanscombe?

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

But what is it that makes people love these celebrations so much?

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

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I and also tried to blow up the parliament in order to celebrate the failure of his attempt.

In 1605 this happened, and people have been celebrating Bonfire Nights 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 in an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

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

There was a plan to assassinate the king because he was in attendance.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament, however, he got cold feet.

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

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

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

We went to the Bonfire Night due to this.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities can be found throughout the UK.

Over the years, 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 because it was focused on having fun.

The event of the 20th century looked very similar to what we are seeing today.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only things happening.

There are lots of foods associated with the event.

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

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

Some families eat soups too and share them with friends or other family members.

What are you going to wear for the events?

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

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

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

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

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

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

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

Smaller events also take place in countryside regions too, although here you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community.

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

With some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember, you will get to enjoy some great firework displays as well.

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. This effigy is made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes, it is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country.
  • The bonfires are not just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the crowds to watch the fireworks. Some cooks cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake named the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to the Bonfire Night to ask for money to buy fireworks. In some parts of the world, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • During Bonfire Night, flaming tar barrels are carried on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the parliament building.

Traditions associated with the night of the bonfire.

Generally, Bonfire Night is a time when people parade in costumes and they also utilize flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers.

This is a clear nod to the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they attempted to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe manner.

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

At the end

A staple event over the years, Bonfire Night continues every year.

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

Over the years, it's one of those events that has impressed people.

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

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

Swanscombe Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Swanscombe, Dartford, Kent, England, DA10 0JB, United Kingdom

Organiser: Swanscombe Bonfire Night