Welling Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Welling poster

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

What should you know about Welling's bonfire night?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has evolved into an annual event.

What is it that people love these celebrations so much?

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

What is the tradition of the Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is because he wanted to blow up the parliament.

In 1605 this happened, and people have been celebrating the night 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 bring about the return of Catholicism to the rightful place.

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

The plan was to assassinate the king while he was in attendance.

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

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

The Parliament made a statement and shared 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 eventually went to the Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

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

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

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

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are many different foods associated with this event.

In fact, things like the jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee or the toffee apples are widely associated with the Bonfire Night.

Some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November, and these are eaten throughout the country.

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

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

You are going to find a lot of amazing things to do in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared by the community.

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

You will also be able to enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

There are some traditions:

  • The biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays in the country. There are bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in order to blow up the parliament building.
  • The "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for fireworks a few days before Bonfire Night. 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.
  • The bonfires are meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people make soup for them. There are some people who cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake called the parking cake that is eaten on Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very tasty.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.

What should you wear to the event?

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

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

The Bonfire Night is a great opportunity for most people to show off their winter clothing.

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

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

Traditions are associated with the night of bonfires.

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe way.

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

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night continues as a staple event.

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

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

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there's no denying that it shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

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

Welling Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Welling, London Borough of Bexley, London, Greater London, England, DA16 3AT, United Kingdom

Organiser: Welling Bonfire Night