West Wickham Bonfire Night 2022

Every year in West Wickham, 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 the Bonfire Night in West Wickham?

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

What does it mean and why do 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 rundown.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I is that it is a way to celebrate the failure of the event.

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

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was thought to be against the Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to bring Catholicism back to the rightful place.

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

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

However, a conspiracy member got cold feet and sent a letter to the parliament.

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

The Parliament made a public statement regarding the situation 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 of lighting up bonfires.

We ended up at the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities can be found throughout the UK.

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

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers due to the focus on having fun.

The 20th century event looked a lot like what we are experiencing today.

The Bonfire Night has traditions.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers during Bonfire Night.

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

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

What are you going to wear to the events?

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

This is in preparation for the events, and it is quite interesting.

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

It's important to keep in mind that a winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here.

You don't have to dress up in a costume, but a proper outfit that helps you protect yourself against the cold is more than welcome.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

You are going to find a lot of great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being 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 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 that are common:

• The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest fireworks displays. Even in rural areas, you will find bonfires and incredible firework displays.
• The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook a wide range of food. A lot of people make soup for the people watching the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, as well as marshmallows and sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of bonfire. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake, and it is very delicious.
• The tradition called "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting one. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for 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.
• There's a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plan that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
• In the UK, it is very common for people to make a model of a man, similar to a scarecrow, and burn it. This effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, which is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The Bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with bonfires.

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

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are just a few of the things that are associated with the Bonfire Night.

Some regions have their own special meals to be prepared around the 5th of November as well.

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

Bottom line

Bonfire Night has become a staple event over the years, and it continues every year.

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

The event has impressed many people over the years.

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

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

West Wickham Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: West Wickham, London Borough of Bromley, London, Greater London, England, BR4 9TD, United Kingdom

Organiser: West Wickham Bonfire Night