Thame Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Thame poster

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

What should you know about Thame's bonfire night?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has become an annual event.

What does it mean to people and why do they love these festivities so much?

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

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 Bonfire Night.

This happened in 1605 and people have celebrated bonfires ever since.

There was a lot of anger against the king due to the fact that he was against Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to return Catholicism to its rightful place.

The two supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

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

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

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

The Parliament made a public statement regarding the situation, shared the fact that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided that the 5th of November was a day to be thankful for and therefore the tradition to light up bonfires.

We headed to the Bonfire Night.

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

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 due to the focus being on having fun.

The event of the 20th century was more similar to what we are experiencing today.

What should you wear to the events?

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

It is an interesting approach that is being prepared for the events.

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

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 from the cold weather is more than welcome, even if you don't have to wear a costume.

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are only part of the celebration.

There are many different foods associated with this 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 prepared around the 5th of November, which is when these are eaten throughout the country.

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

Traditions related to the night of bonfires.

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

It's 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 manner.

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

There are attractions during the night.

You're going to find a lot of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, as well as smaller events.

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.

Some traditions are common:

  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, similar to a bird. The effigy is usually made of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to get some money for the fireworks. In some regions, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • The country's biggest cities get some of the largest firework 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 during the Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an effort to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The bonfires are not meant to be just a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. The crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil, as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of the bonfire. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle in this cake.

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night becomes a staple event.

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

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

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there’s no denying that over the years Bonfire Night shifted towards being 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 go on for many years to come.

Thame Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Thame, South Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Thame Bonfire Night