Wealdstone Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Wealdstone poster

Every year in Wealdstone, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, with fireworks lighting up the skies across the county of Greater London.

What should you know about Wealdstone's bonfire night?

The annual event that has been adopted as an annual event over the years is the Bonfire Night.

Why do people love these celebrations so much, and what does it mean?

Here’s a quick roundup to help you get up to speed with the Bonfire Night, its starting point and the reasons behind its amazing popularity.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is because of the celebration of Bonfire Night.

In 1605 this happened, and people have been celebrating Bonfire Nights ever since.

What happened at that time is that there was a lot of anger against the king, since many considered he was intolerant against the Catholics.

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

Two people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

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

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

The other conspirators were taken into custody here after 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 to be thankful for.

We went to the Bonfire Night due to that.

There are many Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

The origins of Bonfire Night are sinister, but over the years it has become a community focused event.

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

The event looked similar to what we are experiencing today as the 20th century progressed.

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night?

The Bonfire Night celebrations are more than just a celebration with fireworks.

There are many foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are all related to the Bonfire Night.

These are eaten throughout the country, and some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November as well.

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

What should you wear at the event?

People tend to dress up in different costumes depending on where they live on Bonfire Night.

This is in preparation for the events.

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

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 against the cold weather is more than welcome, even if you don't have to dress up.

There are traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

People wear costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers on 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 manner.

Most of the time, there is a firework display and a large bonfire.

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of amazing 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.

A lot of people think that Bonfire Night has become a community-focused event 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 fireworks for a night to remember.

Here are some traditions that are common:

  • Some of the largest fireworks displays can be found in the biggest cities in the country. But in general you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a bird. The effigy is usually made from straw or paper and stuffed into old clothes.
  • The bonfires are not just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. People heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional dessert people eat on Bonfire Night. A cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle is very tasty.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is intriguing. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to Bonfire Night to ask for money for fireworks. In some regions you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.

Summing up

Every year, Bonfire Night becomes a staple event.

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

Over the years, it is one of those events that have impressed people.

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 parts of Bonfire Night are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come!

Wealdstone Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Wealdstone, London Borough of Harrow, London, Greater London, England, HA3 7FG, United Kingdom

Organiser: Wealdstone Bonfire Night