West Thurrock Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in West Thurrock poster

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

What information is important to know about West Thurrock's Bonfire Night?

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event over the years and is one of those incredible festivities.

Why do people love these events so much?

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

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I, and also to blow up the parliament.

The Bonfire Night was celebrated in 1605 and people have been celebrating ever since.

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

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed that only an armed struggle would bring Catholicism back to it's rightful place.

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

The king was present so the plan was to kill him.

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

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

The Parliament made a statement 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 went to the Bonfire Night because of that.

In locations like Essex, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed.

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

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 looked similar to what we are seeing today.

There are traditions associated with Bonfire Night.

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

It is clear that this is a nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

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

Bonfire Night attractions

You're going to find a lot of 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.

For a lot of people, 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 also get to enjoy some great firework displays with some regions going out of their way to use incredible pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

There are some common traditions:

  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed into old clothes.
  • There is a tradition of carrying 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 attempt to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The biggest cities in the country get the largest firework displays. There are bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The bonfires aren't just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook a lot of food. A lot of people make soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional dessert people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.
  • The "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money to buy fireworks. There are kids that blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

bonfires and fireworks are not the only things that are celebrated at the Bonfire Night events.

There are plenty of foods associated with this event as well.

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

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

Some families eat soup and share it with friends and family.

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

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

This approach is quite interesting and in preparation for the events.

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

Something to remember 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 wear a costume.

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night becomes a staple event.

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

People have been impressed by it over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it 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 continue for years and years to come.

West Thurrock Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: West Horndon, Station Road, West Horndon, Brentwood, Essex, England, CM13 3HJ, United Kingdom

Organiser: West Thurrock Bonfire Night