West Ham Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in West Ham poster

Every year in West Ham, 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 West Ham'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 festivities so much, what does it mean?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity with a quick overview.

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 of the celebration of Bonfire Night.

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

At that time there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was seen as being anti-Catholic.

There was a vision that only an armed struggle would restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

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

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

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament but ended up cold feet.

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

The Parliament shared that the conspirators were caught and punished, in a public statement.

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November as a day to be thankful for.

We traveled to the Bonfire Night.

In locations like Greater London, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed.

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 by firework manufacturers because it was focused on having fun.

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

What should you wear to the events?

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

This approach is in preparation for the events.

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

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here, and certainly something to keep in mind.

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome, even if you don't wear a costume.

The Bonfire Night has traditions.

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

The failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament is a clear nod to that.

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

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are some great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires and local events where food and drinks are shared with 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 get to enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

Some traditions are common:

  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. Many people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. There is a traditional parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • One interesting tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money to buy fireworks. In some regions you can even 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 biggest cities in the country have some of the largest firework displays. There are 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 fictional character. This effigy is made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes, it is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team made to blow up the Parliament building.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The celebration with bonfires and fireworks is not the only thing happening.

There are lots of things associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas and treacle toffee are just some of the things that are 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.

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

In the end

Every year, Bonfire Night continues, and has become a staple event.

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 this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it became a more community-friendly event over time.

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

West Ham Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: West Ham, Manor Road, Mill Meads, West Ham, London Borough of Newham, London, Greater London, England, E15 3BN, United Kingdom

Organiser: West Ham Bonfire Night