Westham Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Westham poster

Every year in Westham, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of East Sussex we gather around the bonfire.

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

An annual event over the years, the Bonfire Night is one of those incredible celebrations.

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 with a quick overview.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is that it is a way to celebrate the failure of the parliament.

This happened in 1605 and people have celebrated it 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 the rightful place.

They came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

There was a plan to assassinate the king because he was in attendance.

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

The other conspirators were also taken into custody when 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.

We traveled to the Bonfire Night.

In the UK, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed in many places.

Despite the fact that its origins are sinister, the event 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 20th century event looked a lot like what we are experiencing today.

What are you going to wear for the event?

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

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

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

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

You don't have to wear a costume, but a proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome.

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of amazing attractions in the UK.

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

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night has become a community event where everyone has a good 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 fireworks for a night to remember.

There are some traditions:

  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a model of a man and burn it. All of the effigy is stuffed within old clothes and made out of straw or paper.
  • The tradition is 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 in order to blow up the Parliament building.
  • 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 to buy fireworks. In some parts of the world you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • The bonfires are not just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people heat up soup for people to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat during Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • Some of the largest fireworks displays can be found in the biggest cities in the country. There are bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country.

Traditions are associated with the night of bonfires.

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

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

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

Which are the most popular foods during Bonfire Night?

The Bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration.

There are many foods associated with the event.

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

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

Some families share their soups with friends or family members.

Summing up

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

It’s a great opportunity for people to reconnect, celebrate and also enjoy some amazing foods.

It is one of the events that have impressed people in the past.

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

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

Westham Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Westham, Hankham, Wealden, East Sussex, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Westham Bonfire Night